The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, has commenced a major clearance operation at Tejuosho Market in Yaba as part of efforts to restore order and enforce environmental standards in the area.
The ministry reports that the exercise aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda, which prioritises a cleaner, safer and more business-friendly Lagos.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said public spaces must remain organised, accessible and free from obstruction.
He added that the government would continue to enforce environmental laws and ensure full compliance across all parts of the state.
Speaking with newsmen, Ajayi Lukman, Head of the Public Affairs and Advocacy Unit of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, popularly known as KAI, revealed that the enforcement followed several unresolved complaints from residents.
Lukman explained that the agency had received petitions about the traders three months earlier, after which they were engaged repeatedly and advised to vacate walkways and road setbacks.
Despite multiple advocacy visits, he said, the traders persisted.
“They refused to comply despite repeated engagements, so we carried out today’s operation (November 18, 2025).
“These traders abandoned their designated shops and extended their activities onto walkways and setbacks. They even blocked two lanes, leaving only one for motorists, effectively turning the road into a market,” he said.
He added that leaders of the traders’ association later showed up to apologise, but emphasised that “there is no going back on the enforcement.”
The Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), stressed that residents must continuously support efforts to keep Lagos clean and conducive for business by monitoring their surroundings.
He condemned the activities of individuals who disregard environmental rules, noting the public health risks such behaviour poses.
Cole also highlighted how open defecation, open urination and improper waste disposal contribute significantly to poor air quality in some parts of the state.
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