The Ogun State Government has shut down the Adatan Market in Abeokuta following repeated warnings about the dangers of street trading.

Farook Akintunde, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Ogun State Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) and Chairman of the State Task Force on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement, made this announcement on Friday. He stated that the closure became necessary after traders ignored multiple warnings against selling on walkways, roads, and drainage channels.

According to Akintunde, these activities not only posed risks to the traders but also violated the state’s environmental laws.

“Beyond this, the traders have constructed shanties and makeshift structures on drainage channels. These are not only illegal but also contribute to waste buildup, obstructing the free flow of water and increasing the risk of flooding during the rainy season,” he explained.

He emphasized that the market would remain closed until traders clear the drainage channels, clean the market area, and sign an agreement pledging to cease all forms of street trading.