The Nasarawa State Government has ordered the closure of the New Lafia Modern Market following persistent poor sanitary practices. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Dr Margaret Elayo, announced the decision during a seal-off visit to the market in Lafia yesterday, under heavy security.

She said the action had become necessary to restore cleanliness and ensure compliance with sanitation laws, noting that traders had repeatedly ignored several directives to improve hygiene in the market.

According to her, the market would remain closed until remedial measures were taken to reverse the unhealthy conditions. She urged the market leadership to mobilise traders to sanitise the premises and make it suitable for business operations.

A textile trader, Danjuma Ahmed, expressed displeasure over the closure, saying it had disrupted their livelihoods. He appealed to market authorities to cooperate with the government in restoring cleanliness and public safety.

Similarly, the Ogun State Government has sealed the Adatan Market in Abeokuta for environmental infractions and illegal roadside trading. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Chairman of the Ogun State Task Force on Environmental Compliance, Farouk Akintunde, disclosed this yesterday at Oke-Mosan after an enforcement exercise.

Akintunde explained that Adatan Market was shut down due to traders’ indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels and display of goods along walkways and drainages. He warned that the state government would no longer tolerate disregard for environmental regulations.

He reminded traders across Ogun State to take responsibility for the drainage channels in front of their shops by desilting and clearing them to prevent flooding. “They should also note that Thursday of the week has been set aside in Ogun State for markets to observe sanitation, which must be strictly adhered to,” he said.

Akintunde added that the enforcement and closure of the market followed several months of warnings and engagements with traders, which they ignored.

He emphasised that the government’s ongoing enforcement actions reflect its zero tolerance for environmental pollution and its renewed commitment to maintaining a clean state.

In a related development, Alaga Restaurant on Mercy Road, Panseke, and Sintinatti Bar at Oke-Ilewo, both in Abeokuta, were also sealed for poor wastewater management and improper discharge into the environment.