In response to a cholera outbreak and related fatalities, the Lagos State government has closed Ile Epo Market, the second-largest food market in the state after Mile 12 Market.
On Sunday, officials from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) sealed the market, marking its second closure within a year due to environmental concerns.
Traders and buyers were caught off guard when they arrived to find the market locked, expressing frustration over the sudden shutdown. “I am appealing to the government to find lasting solutions to these frequent closures,” lamented Rosemary Olatinwo, who was unable to purchase food items, according to Daily Trust.
Mercy, another trader, criticized the repeated closures and urged authorities to seek alternative solutions rather than repeatedly shutting down the market.
Olatunji Manchester, the General Secretary of the Ile-Epo/Oke Odo Traders’ Association, voiced suspicions about the timing and frequency of the closures, highlighting the difficulties faced by traders and their families.
An anonymous task force official cited the market’s filthy environment and the ongoing cholera outbreak in the state as reasons for the closure, with heaps of refuse being a significant concern.
The Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the closure on his verified X handle, attributing it to numerous complaints about the market’s poor hygienic conditions and non-compliance with waste management regulations.
“This action aims to protect the public from diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery,” Wahab stated, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report similar sanitary issues.
These measures are part of broader efforts by the state government to contain the spread of cholera, which remains a growing concern in Lagos.
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