The Kwara State Government on Thursday shut down the popular Mandate Market, Ilorin over non compliance with environmental laws of the state.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mallam Shehu Ndanusa Usman, announced the suspension during an inspection visit to the market.
He said the directive became necessary after several warnings to the market leaders by the ministry fell on deaf ears.
He said, “We decided to close the market after several meetings with market leaders and our ministry on the need to strictly adhere to the environmental law fell on deaf ears.
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“We have reminded them several times of the need to clean their environment and evacuate the refuse which may cause an outbreak of epidemics. But to our dismay, there is no compliance and this warranted our actions today.”
The commissioner said the action was enough warning to all other markets located in the state at large to desist from violating environmental laws or else the ministry would not no option but to close down defaulting markets.
He however reiterated the commitment of the present administration to sustain a clean and hygienic environment to ensure healthy living of Kwara residents.
After several hours of closure, the market was reopened, following the intervention of some stakeholders in the state, with a promise to comply with the government directive.
Speaking on the issue, a market women leader (Iyaloja), Mrs Adenike Lambe, said it was regrettable that the environment was unkempt despite several efforts by the government.
“We have a consultant in the market collecting N1,000 monthly and there have been a series of meetings between the leadership of the market and government. They (government) even offered to provide pay loaders free of charge. Although the refuse is still there, I think the government just decided to open it for now because of negative implications to the economic situation,” she added.
