As part of measures to prevent the outbreak of communicable diseases especially cholera in Ogun, the state government has shutdown Iberekodo daily market in Abeokuta for operating below public hygiene standard.
The motive was to safeguarding the state against the outbreak of communicable diseases and to serve as deterrent to other traders across various markets in the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya stated that the government took the decision to shut down the market due to its dirty environment and heaps of waste dumps within the market which could invariably affect the safety of foodstuffs and other commodities sold in the market.
Oresanya, who also is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) noted that since the traders have failed to heed government’s earlier warnings to comply with public hygiene protocols as it related to market sanitations in the overriding public interest, government has no choice than closing it down.
“The state government will not fold its hands and watch few traders to compromise the health of millions of our people by trading in dirty environment,” he submitted.
Oresanya added that the market would remain shut until the traders clean the market environment of all dirt and clear the illegal dump site within the market.
He therefore warned other traders operating markets across the state, whether daily or weekly to make cleaniness their watchword as the state government would not allow trading in dirty and unkept environment especially now that cholera and other communicable diseases are spreading across the country.
Responding, the Iyaloja of Iberekodo m
arket, Alhaja Monsurat Oladipupo assured the state government of their readiness to clean the market so that it can be opened for trading activities soon.
