Business owners at Alakoro Market on Lagos Island were thrown into confusion as enforcement officers from the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources stormed the market, seizing large quantities of plastic materials banned under state environmental regulations.
The operation which formed part of a state-wide campaign against single-use plastics and non-biodegradable nylon products, left many traders counting their losses.
The Ministry’s Political Head (Commissioner), Tokunbo Wahab maintained that the enforcement was in line with existing environmental laws aimed at reducing pollution and preventing blocked drainages that lead to flooding. He insisted that there would be no reversal of the ban.
“This operation forms part of our broader commitment to eliminate pollutants that damage our ecosystems, block drainage systems, and contribute to flooding across the state. There will be no exceptions to this policy, Commissioner Wahab stated.”
The exercise, which combines seizure and sensitization, is likely to continue across markets in Lagos, as authorities intensify efforts to rid the state of harmful plastic waste.
