After One Week, LAWMA Lifts Closure On Ojuelegba-Yaba Shops, Enforces New Waste Disposal Rules

Business is gradually returning to the Ojuelegba-Yaba corridor after the Lagos Waste Management Authority reopened shops that were shut for a week over sanitation violations.

LAWMA sealed the shops last Thursday, citing indiscriminate dumping of refuse and dirt around storefronts. Traders said the enforcement came without prior warning.

“They just came and locked everywhere last Thursday because of dirt around our shops. We were not given any notice before the action,” a shop owner who asked to remain anonymous said.

Following appeals from market leaders and affected traders, LAWMA began reopening the shops this week. The authority tied the reopening to payment of fines, though traders said there was no fixed rate. The amount, they noted, was agreed upon after negotiations with each shop owner.

“It has been a difficult week. I was still spending money to feed my family, but there was no income because the shop was closed,” the trader added.

As part of the new conditions, LAWMA has directed all shop owners to place waste bins in front of their premises. The agency said the measure is aimed at sustaining cleanliness and preventing a repeat of the violations.

Ojuelegba and Yaba are two of Lagos’ busiest markets, with thousands of traders and daily foot traffic that generates significant waste. While the state government supports commercial activities, officials maintain that environmental standards must be upheld.

The Lagos State Government has intensified its clean-up drive across markets, motor parks, and major roads in recent months. LAWMA has carried out similar enforcement actions in areas where refuse is dumped improperly or where traders fail to provide disposal facilities.

Market leaders are now urging compliance to avoid another shutdown.

“Yaba and Ojuelegba will always produce a lot of waste because of the volume of trade here. That is not a reason to litter. We must keep our surroundings clean and provide bins,” a market leader said.

With the reopening underway, trading activities have resumed along the corridor. However, many shop owners say they are still recovering from losses incurred during the one-week closure.