Hon. Jude Chikelu Nwankwo, former President General of Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association (LACEC), largest market for fairly used (Tokunbo) motor parts in West Africa.
The Lagos State Government has once again, sealed Ladipo Spare Parts Market, in fact, the largest fairly used automobile spare parts hubs in the state, claiming persistent environmental violations.
The popular market, located along the busy Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road in the Oshodi area of Lagos, was shut down following what authorities described as “repeated and flagrant breaches of environmental laws”, including indiscriminate refuse dumping, illegal street trading and obstruction of drainage channels.
Whereas officials said the closure followed several warnings and previous enforcement actions that failed to yield lasting compliance by traders operating in the market, analysts say the market has become a source of IGR for the state in terms of paying fines before every reopening.
Confirming the development, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the action was taken to protect public health, ensure environmental sanity and maintain order along major traffic corridors in the state.
According to Wahab, the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will no longer tolerate practices that endanger lives or undermine the state’s environmental sustainability agenda.
“This government is resolute about enforcing environmental laws. Markets must operate within approved guidelines, especially those located along critical infrastructure and high-traffic corridors,” the commissioner stated.
He recalled that Ladipo Market was similarly sealed in 2023 over poor waste management and environmental infractions, noting that the market was only reopened after traders committed to improved sanitation standards and proper waste disposal practices.
However, recent inspections reportedly revealed a relapse into old habits, prompting the renewed enforcement action.
Business Hilights reports that the market has never stayed two straight years without being shut down on the same ground of environmental issues which the government knows cannot stop because of the nature of the business anywhere in the world. The shutdown was carried out by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce, who sealed off key entrances to the market and ordered traders to vacate the premises until further notice.
Authorities also stressed that the location of the market — close to the Apapa–Oshodi Expressway and the airport access road — makes strict environmental compliance non-negotiable due to the risks posed to traffic flow, public safety and sanitation.
The state government has reiterated that the market will remain closed until operators demonstrate full compliance with waste management regulations, including engagement with approved waste collectors and adherence to environmental safety standards.
The latest closure underscores Lagos State’s renewed push to enforce its zero-tolerance policy on environmental violations across markets, motor parks and commercial centres, regardless of their size or economic importance.
