Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has condemned the recent closure of Owode Onirin and Mile 12 International markets by Lagos State Government through the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab.
This was contained in a statement issued through its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, who asserted that the closure is coming at the heels of recent actions that negatively affected the livelihoods of millions of Lagos residents in unfortunate and a misplaced priority.
According to the statement issued in Lagos on Saturday, October 14, 2023, CHSR said; “It should be instructive that the two markets are not only critical to economic survival of millions of traders across the country but also strategic to the supply of perishable food and vehicle spare parts in Sub-Sahara Africa.
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“Indeed, we aware that the two markets have, on many occasions in the past, been adjudged as compliant to the maintenance of clean environment as manifested by the introduction of innovations and infrastructural development that has tremendously improve the standard of the markets.
“We maintain that Lagos State Government in it’s quest to ensure that all market maintain cleaning and hygienic environment should not arbitrarily deploy closure of markets as weapons considering that the state environmental agencies; LAWMA has failed to meet up with the expectations of traders in spite of fulfilling the necessary obligation to the agency in charge of waste disposals.
“We are aware that Mile 12 International market has featured as the best maintained perishable food market in Nigeria thus serving as example to other similar markets across the country.
“We also wish to reiterate that arbitrarily and frequent closure of markets at a time economic downturn when citizens are barely coping with survival is ill-conceived and counterproductive” the statement concluded.
The human rights group is however appealing to Governor. Babajide Sanwiolu to as a matter of urgency order the reopening of Owode Onirin and Mile 12 International markets to avoid the unintended consequences of on economic Investments and livelihoods of overwhelming majority of the people.
CHSR is a service-oriented membership organization registered to promote, defend and sustain the fundamental human and Socio-economic Rights of every Nigerian.
By Ajibola Adedoye