The Ogun State government has announced its intention to close any market found guilty of improper waste disposal and maintaining a dirty environment, citing public health concerns amid a cholera outbreak.
Abayomi Hunye, the Special Adviser to the government and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), emphasized this during a Sunday meeting with the Ogun State Association of Market Men and Women in Abeokuta.
Hunye underscored the critical need for all market stakeholders to engage in proper waste management practices. “Markets, which are central hubs for purchasing commodities such as foodstuffs and provisions, must remain exceptionally clean at all times,” he stated.
Improper waste disposal in markets, Hunye warned, attracts rodents, vectors, and flies that can contaminate goods and pose serious health risks to the public. He highlighted the problematic behavior of some traders and market leaders who dump refuse indiscriminately, often clogging drainage channels in front of their shops or stalls.
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“Certain markets have even established illegal dumpsites within their premises, particularly at the back, creating a haven for pests. These pests then come into contact with goods sold to the public, raising the risk of disease transmission,” Hunye explained. He affirmed that the state government would take stringent measures to prevent such practices, including shutting down markets that do not comply with proper waste disposal directives.
Hunye called on market stakeholders to adopt responsible waste disposal habits and to collaborate with OGWAMA to ensure a waste-free and hygienic environment.
