Lagos shuts Oshodi Resettlement Market over attack on sanitation officers

The Lagos State Government has ordered the closure of Oshodi Resettlement Market after traders allegedly attacked officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) during an enforcement operation.

 

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who said the market would remain shut following the incident.

 

According to Wahab, environmental enforcement officers were carrying out an operation targeting hoodlums and street beggars in the area when they were obstructed by traders.

 

He alleged that some traders prevented officials from making arrests and joined in attacking personnel, while government operational vehicles were vandalised during the confrontation.

 

“The Oshodi Resettlement Market has been shut down. Traders at the market attacked officers and personnel of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps and prevented them from arresting hoodlums and beggars who vandalised the agency’s operational vehicles during an enforcement operation earlier today,” Wahab said.

 

The closure comes as the Lagos State Government intensifies efforts to enforce environmental regulations and combat activities contributing to public nuisance and poor sanitation across the state.

 

Recently, the government inaugurated a Special Environmental Task Force involving members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to help curb indiscriminate waste disposal in public places.

 

Officials say the initiative is aimed at improving environmental compliance and reducing illegal dumping of waste across Lagos.

 

The state government has not announced a timeline for reopening the market but reiterated its commitment to enforcing environmental laws and maintaining public order.