Lagos State Champions Cleaner Markets and Hygiene Culture with NGO Support

In a renewed push to promote environmental responsibility and cleaner public spaces, the Lagos State Government has urged residents and traders to adopt sustainable hygiene practices as a way of life.

This call was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, during a visit by the Kokun Foundation to the ministry’s secretariat at Alausa on Monday.

The visit, led by the Founder and CEO of Kokun Foundation, Mr. Olukokun Adepeju, included a sensitization roadshow featuring volunteers and widows, all rallying behind the Foundation’s Clean Market Initiative—a grassroots campaign to improve hygiene in public markets and encourage responsible waste disposal.

Speaking at the event, Wahab stressed the importance of collective responsibility in environmental protection. “Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he said, emphasizing that the government cannot succeed in isolation without the active participation of market traders and the general public.

He applauded the Kokun Foundation’s efforts, stating, “We are glad Kokun himself led this march. Keep doing this until everyone is on the same page with the government on environmental hygiene.”

Highlighting the risks of poor sanitation, Wahab noted that the state remains committed to reducing the threat of disease outbreaks by promoting a clean, flood-free, and healthy environment. He underscored that cleanliness starts from the individual—how people treat their homes, surroundings, markets, and how they handle waste.

Wahab also reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance policy for environmental infractions such as dumping waste on roads, medians, canals, or open spaces, as well as open defecation and urination. He warned that defaulters would face strict penalties under Lagos State’s environmental laws.

The Commissioner further advised traders to cease street trading and move into designated market areas, helping to ensure orderliness and reduce environmental hazards.

In response, Mr. Olukokun Adepeju expressed his appreciation for the government’s continued support and commitment to a sustainable environment.

He revealed that the Kokun Foundation had visited several markets across the state to educate traders on the importance of maintaining clean surroundings. “We will continue to sensitise market women and men on the need to embrace regular environmental sanitation and dispose waste responsibly,” Adepeju said.

He also stressed that environmental offenders must be held accountable, noting that residents would be educated on the consequences of illegal waste disposal, including the possibility of arrest and jail time.

The collaboration between the Lagos State Government and Kokun Foundation signals a growing movement toward a more environmentally conscious Lagos, starting from its bustling marketplaces and spreading to communities citywide.