Govt Seals Popular Food Market In Lagos

For the second consecutive time in under a year, the Lagos State Government has closed down the well-known Ile Epo Market, which ranks as the state’s second-largest food market, following Mile 12.

Naija News understands that the market was shut down on Monday by officials from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

Previously, the market was temporarily closed for approximately four weeks due to environmental violations.

It was reported that several trucks from LAWMA were operating within the market on Monday despite the gates being closed to both sellers and buyers.

The specifics of the violation committed by the market have not been disclosed.

When reached via a telephone number posted at the entrance gate, the individual who answered requested our reporter to visit the LAWMA headquarters.

However, a confidential source mentioned that the market was shut down due to severe cleanliness issues.

“The market is very, very dirty and the state government doesn’t want to take anything to chance with the spread of cholera that is why LAWMA was directed to move in and shut the market. You can also see heaps of refuse around here. This, I think, was why the market was shut,” a source told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity,” Daily Trust quoted the source saying.

However, the Ministry of Environment at the state level has not yet released any official statement regarding the closure.