The Ogun State Government has threatened to shut down markets that fail to comply with waste management regulations, warning traders and market leaders to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse within market premises.

The warning followed the evacuation of large heaps of refuse from the Farmers Market on Solu Road in Ifo, and Mamu Market in Ifo and Ijebu North local council areas.

Disclosing this after a clean-up exercise at the markets, the Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA), Farouk Akintunde, said the continued indiscriminate dumping of waste inside the markets was unacceptable and posed serious environmental and health hazards.

He stressed that all traders and market authorities must ensure that refuse is deposited only at the government-approved collection points for evacuation by licensed waste collectors.

Akintunde expressed disappointment that, in spite of several sensitisation meetings and engagements with market leaders on proper waste disposal, some traders had continued to violate environmental sanitation guidelines.

He explained that “indiscriminate dumping of waste within markets creates environmental nuisance and exposes food items to contamination, thereby increasing the risk of food poisoning and disease outbreak.”

Therefore, he called on the leadership of the affected markets to enforce regular sanitation exercises and ensure strict compliance with the approved waste disposal practices, warning that markets found reverting to indiscriminate refuse dumping would face sanctions, including possible closure.

Akintunde further reiterated the state government’s commitment to promoting a cleaner and healthier environment through effective waste management strategies and strict enforcement of environmental sanitation laws.