The Kwara State Government on Thursday (November 2, 2023) shut down the Mandate market in Adewole area of Ilorin, the state capital for violating state environmental law.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Mallam Shehu Ndanusa Usman directed that the market be shut down, after several warnings to the markets leaders by the Ministry in charge of the market.
In his words, “We decided to close the market after several meetings with market leaders and us, the Ministry in charge, on the need to strictly adhere to the environmental law, fell into deaf ears. We have reminded them severally of the need to clean their environment and evacuate the refuse which may cause an outbreak of epidemics, in the State, but to our dismay, there is no compliance and this warranted our actions today”.
The Commissioner, in a statement signed by the Press Secretary of the Ministry, Yakub K Aliagan, said the action in itself is enough warning to all other markets located in the state at large to desist from violating environmental laws or else the ministry would not have any option than to close down erring markets.
He however reiterated the commitment of the present administration to sustain a clean and hygienic environment, to ensure healthy living of Kwara residents .
After several hours of closure, the market was however reopened, following the intervention of some stakeholders in the state, with a promise to comply with environmental laws.
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