The Lagos state government has charged market leaders to harness technology to improve market operations in the state.

The wife of the Lagos state governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, gave the charge during the one-day seminar on market sanitation and security for market leaders in Lagos East Senatorial District.

The seminar organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development had the theme: “Improving Waste Management and Public Health in Markets: A Recipe for Economic Growth and Prosperity in Lagos East Senatorial District.”

Mrs Sanwo-Olu, who is the chairperson, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO), urged the market leaders to ensure proper waste management and hygiene, toward a sustainable environment.

“Harnessing technology is another key aspect of improving market operations.

“Tools like CCTVs, public address systems, and digital platforms, including social media can enhance waste management, public health, and security in our markets,” she said.

According to her, Lagos is a city of immense vibrancy and opportunity, and the city’s economic vitality is connected to the vibrancy of its markets.

The governor’s wife said that these markets were the lifeblood of the economy, offering essential goods and services to millions and contributing significantly to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

She said that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu recognised the strategic importance of markets in achieving the vision of making Lagos a 21st-century economy, hence, markets had been given high priority since the inception of the administration.

“However, markets also present challenges, particularly in terms of environmental and health risks.

“Addressing these challenges is essential to safeguarding the well-being of market users, the economy, and the environment.

“Improving market sanitation and security requires collective action. Together, we can create cleaner, healthier, and safer markets that drive trade, enhance property values, and improve the quality of life for all Lagos residents.

“To this end, the government has prioritised waste management and public health in our markets.

“Through seminars like this, we aim to emphasise the importance of maintaining cordial relationships with the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA).

“Such partnerships ensure the consistent provision of adequate waste disposal facilities and regular waste collection, which are essential to achieving clean market environments.

“Equally important is fostering a culture of security awareness in our markets.

“This involves working closely with state security agencies to develop effective strategies, provide training on best practices, and educate stakeholders on identifying and reporting potential threats to market safety,” Mrs Sanwo-Olu said.

Also speaking, Bolaji Robert, the commissioner for local government, chieftaincy affairs and rural development, said that the markets are essential hubs of economic activity, providing livelihoods for millions of people.

Mr Robert said that markets could be vulnerable to health threats if wastes from them were not properly disposed, hence the need to collectively take up the responsibility of disposing wastes properly.

“Let us for this reason ensure that produce and wares from our markets are kept in best hygienic conditions, especially by bagging our waste and ensuring they are disposed in the containers provided by LAWMA.

“The Yuletide is here, and there will be influx of people in our markets, seeking items to buy for the season; which will result into the generation of more waste products, and the need to ensure proper disposal of these wastes becomes sacrosanct.

“Equally, it will require that market stakeholders become more alert to activities in the markets so as to ensure safety of lives and properties, as well as avoidance of cases of fire outbreaks in our markets.

“Market stakeholders should therefore ensure that all safety measures are religiously observed in their markets,” he said.

Also, the commissioner for environment and water infrastructure, Tokunbo Wahab, said that Ikosi-Isheri LGA had not committed any sanitation infraction so far in 2024.

Mr Wahab, who was represented by a director in the ministry, Hassan Sanuth, however, implored market leaders to discourage the dumping of refuse on the median of the Ikorodu express road, to avoid sanction.

Samiat Bada, the chairperson, Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, restated her administration’s commitment to consistently support Mr Sanwo-Olu’s initiative aimed at repositioning the markets and ensuring a cleaner environment.

In her remarks, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the iyaloja/president-general, Association of Commodity Men and Women of Nigeria, enjoined market leaders to prioritise hygiene, by ensuring that market places were kept clean at all times.

(NAN)