Traders at Ladipo Market, West Africa’s largest auto parts market located in Mushin, Lagos, observed their quarterly Environmental Sanitation Day over the weekend.
The President-General of the market, Prince Africanus Ogudoro, stated that the exercise aligns with the Lagos state government’s directive on market cleanliness.
He added that the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Association upholds the belief that “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
Ogudoro noted that the quarterly sanitation is distinct from the weekly Thursday clean-up mandated by the government, emphasizing that the additional effort ensures the market remains even cleaner.
Ogudoro said: “Our focus is directed on keeping the environment cleaner for the government, the traders and customers. Because we are advised by the state government to make sure our environment is always clean.”
He noted that though the exercise was the last in the year, from next year, it would continue.
“Since it’s the last one for the year, we are trying to make sure that the environment is cleaner. We want to start it again either by February or March 2025. So, we want to have a wider scope of what we are trying to do, to make sure all the waste is brought out to the designated area for dumping our waste from where the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) officials would take them away,” he added.
Ogudoro said the challenges of waste management in the market were being addressed by LAWMA, who he said, unlike before, were “being proactive this time around. But, now, I think they are improving gradually. But, we still hope for an improvement on their own side”.
On the things that the government promised the market, the president-general said the government was trying.
“At least, the environment is friendly for us. As a people, we can also say the government has been trying to see what they can do. But, we are not saying what to do. There are some things we are supposed to do ourselves. And that is what we are trying to do at the moment.
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He urged the traders to do the right thing and make sure they abide by the rules of the game.
“Making sure the environment is always clean. Do not condone waste. Do not put waste anywhere. Not anyhow. You know, there was a time it was said Ladipo Market was very dirty and all that. Not any more. There is a massive improvement in cleaning Ladipo at the moment,” Ogudoro added.
On their relationship with the local government, he said it is “very superb. “Very sound. We want to also appreciate the chairman of the local government. He has been very, very good to us as a father. He has made sure we have a symbiotic relationship”.
The market’s Environment Sanitation Committee Chairman, Chiufo Nonso, scored the exercise a success. He said the exercise involved the cleaning of roads too.
“As you can see, every shop, warehouse, unit is shut. The market is shut from 7 am to 12. to ensure compliance,”
He thanked the traders for their obedience to their directive.
“At least, we have shown to the world, particularly in Lagos State Ministry of Environment, that Ladipo market abides by rules and laws. And the promise we gave them that Ladipo market must be clean at any given time is what we are maintaining.
“And the sustenance of it, our people have known so much, we have lectured them so much on sustainability of cleaning in Ladipo market. As you can see, when you go around the road, everywhere is clean. So, we thank God for today’s exercise.
“This is the last one for the year. But, for the Environmental Committee of Ladipo market, we are working tirelessly. We are not closing for the year. We will make sure that Ladipo Market is always clean. Even when we go on holiday for Christmas, the Environmental Committee is always on the ground to make sure that the road is clean.
Nonso thanked the Lagos State governor, Commissioner for the Environment, and permanent secretary for their support to his colleagues.
“We thank all of them, more especially, kudos to the managing director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority. We thank him so much for replying or giving us a responsive answer to our pleas and clarion calls when we felt that operations were not coming.
“When he directed the operations director, he quickly came into this market and swung his action and did a massive and wonderful mopping up. As you can see, Ladipo market is very clean. This is the biggest automobile parts market in the whole of West Africa. And when you go round the streets, roads, warehouses, you will see the cleanliness. The cleanliness has come to stay.
“The sustainability of the cleanup has come to stay. Our people have imbibed that culture in them that cleanliness is next to ugliness. So, we thank them very, very well for answering our call.”
He advised members of the market association to always be clean during the yuletide.
