The Lagos Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA) has announced the re-opening of Ladipo, Oyingbo, Alamutu Ologede and Ile-Epo markets, recently sealed for filth and gross environmental abuse.

The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who announced the re-opening in Lagos, noted the importance of stringent compliance measures in safeguarding public health and shielding residents against future health crises.

Gbadegesin said that the re-opening of the markets followed full compliance with requisite conditions.

“Following extensive renovations and compliance measures including, the implementation of stringent conditions and a written mandatory undertaking for reopening, Ladipo Market, Oyingbo Market, Alamutu Ologede Market, and Ile-Epo Oke Odo Market, have been reopened today for business transactions,” Gbadegesin said.

The LAWMA CEO emphasised that the re-opened markets had to comply with a set of mandatory conditions listed for them prior to resuming operations.

“These conditions include providing a designated waste point; installation of block work fence and platforms for the placement of double dino bins; procurement of double dino bins for waste containerisation; commitment to putting in place sustainable market waste policing to guarantee constant cleanliness of the market environment

“Enforce proper waste disposal regulations; engagement of bin keepers; collaboration with accredited PSP operators for timely evacuation.

“Prompt payment of waste bills, as well as dislodging Street traders from road medians and setbacks and preventing unauthorised vending,” Gbadegesin said.

According to him, a filthy market is a breeding ground for terrible diseases like cholera, typhoid, Lassa fever, ebola, malaria and others.

He stressed that the state cannot stand by and watch some markets expose the people of Lagos State to such conditions which are clearly avoidable if they do the right things.

“We want to make it abundantly clear, that any future violations will attract stiffer sanctions, including the permanent closure of the offending market,” Gbadegesin said.

He implored the executive members of markets in the state to live up to their responsibilities, urging traders to be public-minded by being hygienic in their trading activities, as that would be usually beneficial to them and their customers.

He added that, local government authorities would be entrusted with the responsibility of monitoring market operations’ adherence to set conditions.

He urged members of the public to play a pivotal role in this process by promptly reporting any observed lapses in sanitation to LAWMA.

He reminded markets around the state that LAWMA’s zero tolerance policy for reckless waste dumping in markets was still on course, warning that defaulting markets risked closure and heavy fine.

For waste management related issues in your area, call LAWMA toll-free number: 07080601020 and 617.

NAN reports that LAWMA on Sept. 30, Wahab ordered immediate closure of Ladipo Market, Mushin, for several environmental offences including, reckless waste disposal, unhygienic premises, and non payment of waste bills, among others. (

The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has declared illegal the N5,000 “compliance fee” charged by some personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in some passport offices to help applicants process their passports.

Tunji-Ojo made the declaration while responding to questions from reporters.

“Compliance fee? I am hearing it for the first time. We will plead with Nigerians to assist us in succeeding. Do not pay the compliance fee if there is anything like that. Do not pay for your rights. There is nothing in the books that is a compliance fee. Please, let us educate our people,”, he stated.

Upon taking office, the minister questioned the huge lines at immigration passport offices, stating that the situation had devolved into Nigerians queuing for passports to paradise.

While emphasizing the importance of reducing the time it takes to obtain an international passport, the minister stated that even as a federal lawmaker and Chairman of the Committee on Niger Delta.

His predecessor, Rauf Aregbesola, had imposed a three-week turnaround period for passport renewals and a six-week turnaround time for new applications. However, there were more than 204,000 unprocessed applications as of September 2023.

Acting Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wuraola-Adepoju, detailed the reasons for the rising backlogs, stating that the desire of young Nigerians to leave the country, dubbed the “Japa Syndrome,” has resulted in an increase in applications since 2021.

“My daughter waited for six months to get her passport booklet. I was the House committee chairman on the NDDC. I faced this. Tell me what an average Nigerian would face. It is like we are waiting for a passport to heaven,” said Tunji-Ojo.

As a result, he directed that the backlogs be addressed within two weeks. Working with technical partners and with the minister’s leadership, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was able to remove the backlogs in just over two weeks. Surprisingly, more than half of individuals who applied before September of this year and whose passport booklets are now ready have declined to pick up their documents.

Development Commission (NDDC), her own daughter waited for six months to obtain her passport, leaving her to wonder what the fate of the average Nigerian would be.

By Biola Lawal

Gusau (Flowerbudnews): The Federal Government under President Tinubu, has delivered 40 houses to displaced persons in Gusau as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to address pressing humanitarian challenges in the country.

Federal Government expressed its commitment to address pressing humanitarian challenges in the country including providing decent homes for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu handed over the  fully completed houses at the resettlement city built by the Refugees commission to the IDPs at Gidan Dawa area of Gusau, Zamfara State.

This was disclosed in a statement by Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, (ANIPR), Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister, MHAPA, a copy of which was made available to Flowerbudnews in Abuja

Dr Betta Edu said that the buildings were testimony to the commitment of the present administration to ameliorate humanitarian challenges in the country by providing decent homes for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), among others.

It would be recalled that several persons were displaced in Zamfara, including a visibly old mother of four who was thrown out of their abode as a result of banditry attacks in their communities and lived with her grand children and community in the forest for months.

Their stories have however changed with the new homes given to them by President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope intervention from the Refugee commission.

The Minister said president Bola Ahmad Tinubu was determined to provide more shelter to IDPs across the country, stressing that a new dawn has birthed and their story will change moving forward.

Edu who made the presentation to the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, in the presence of the High Federal Commissioner Hon. Tijani Ahmed called on the International Communities, Private Establishments and Public Spirited Individuals to support humanitarian response in the State.

“This Resettlement City Project is not just a physical endeavour; it is a beacon of hope for the beneficiaries and the State.

“We are going to provide more lighting to this environment to further illuminate this new city as part of security measures, this is with immediate effect.

Responding to the Governor’s request to build more homes and cities for the Internally Displaced Persons in other parts of the Senatorial district, the Minister said;

“Mr Governor, all you need to do is to provide us with lands and other requirements at the State level that will enable us to build as requested,” she said.

In his remarks, the Governor of Zamfara State, Dr. Dauda Aliyu Commended the federal government for her interest in security situation in the State.

“Zamfara is in dire need of support. The provision of an IDP resettlement
facility in the State Capital, Gusau, is indeed a welcome development. We appreciate the
collaborative efforts of the Federal Government in alleviating the suffering of our people. In this regard, the Government and the good people of Zamfara State remain grateful for this kind gesture.

“We request for more support particularly, we request that the Honorable Minister use her good offices to construct two
more of these projects, one each in the remaining two zones, Zamfara North and West
Senatorial Districts. This is to fulfil the initial plan of these vital intervention projects,” the Governor said.

Also Speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Alhaji Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed said the handing over of the houses was part of the
Renewed Hope Agenda of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu which underscores the paramount importance of the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons in his government.

He said with the Minister’s approval, more programmes, projects and opportunities will come to the state under his Commission. (Flowerbudnews)