Lagos reels out conditions as it reopens Ladipo market

The Ladipo auto spare parts market in Mushin area of Lagos shut by the state government two weeks ago was on Mon­day reopened after the traders signed an agreement to abide by the state environmental laws and raise sanitary standard in the market.

The market, popular for used auto spare parts (Tokun­bo) and serves Nigeria and the West African sub-region, was shut on Monday, February 25, 2013 following what govern­ment described as abuse of san­itation laws and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels and construction

of stalls on road setbacks and drainage alignments.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, accompanied by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, visited the market last week, where Okorocha appealed on behalf of the trad­ers on the need to reopen the market.

Yesterday, the state govern­ment finally ordered the reopen­ing of the market after the traders agreed to certain terms spelt out in an agreement signed by Ikechukwu Animalu, president, Ladipo Central Executive Com­mittee (LACEC); Steve Paul, sec­retary of Ladipo Central Execu­tive Auto Dealers’ Association; Babatunde Adepitan, chairman, Mushin Local Government and Tunji Bello, commissioner for

the environment- represented by Muyideen Akinsanya, perma­nent secretary, Office of Drain­age Services in the ministry.

At a meeting of stakeholders held at the ministry yesterday, the following conditions were reeled out for the traders who expressed readiness to comply.

The non-conversion of the drainage right of way (RoW) to trading points and mechanic workshops; non-conversion of the access roads in the market to trading points, non-conver­sion of the shops in the market to residences, no dumping of wastes and vehicle parts into canal, maintaining the general cleanliness of the market envi­ronment at all times and that the Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC) shall be

empowered to ensure same.

Also, in response to the ap­peal for reopening the market by concerned stakeholders, the state government, Mushin Local Government and the traders’ association agreed on the following:

*That there shall be proper security arrangement in the market which shall be accept­able to the government and which cost shall be borne by the traders.

*That there shall be non-encroachment on the drainage right of way (RoW). The canal shall be properly fenced and no dumping of refuse into the canal.

*There shall be no illegal trading activities in and around the market environment.

JOSHUA BASSEY