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The Executive Chairman of Ilesa East Local Government, Hon. Lanre Balogun, has initiated a large-scale sanitation exercise at the popular Sabo-Irojo Market in Ilesa, addressing long-standing environmental concerns raised by residents and traders.
Sabo-Irojo Market, widely known as a Monday-to-Monday market, attracts traders and buyers from across Nigeria and neighbouring countries such as Togo and Guinea. The weekly market serves as a major commercial hub for farmers from various Ijesaland communities who converge every Monday with produce including plantains, bananas, fruits, palm oil, kolanuts, coconuts and other agricultural products.
Despite its economic significance, the market has faced persistent sanitation challenges. The volume of refuse generated after each trading day has been described as overwhelming, leaving behind heaps of waste and offensive odours that affect surrounding communities.
Pastor Soji Falase of Lord Jesus Christ Church, located near the market, lamented the situation, describing the level of dirtiness after market hours as alarming and a potential health hazard to residents and worshippers.
Responding to the outcry, Hon. Balogun deployed a pay-loader caterpillar to evacuate accumulated refuse from the market premises, significantly improving environmental conditions in the area. Residents and traders have widely applauded the intervention, expressing optimism that sustained efforts will preserve the market’s reputation as a key economic hub in Ijesaland and beyond.
From Waste to Wealth
Beyond the clean-up exercise, an emerging “waste-to-wealth” narrative is taking shape at the market.
Speaking with our correspondent, Mama Morenike Farodoye highlighted how scavengers capitalize on the waste generated after each market day. Plastic bottles, discarded cartons, and plantain and banana stalks are sorted and gathered for resale and recycling.
Reusable plastics and cartons are sold to recycling agents, while organic waste is repurposed for compost or animal feed. For many informal waste collectors, what appears to be environmental nuisance has become a vital source of income.
Observers say the situation underscores the potential of structured recycling initiatives in commercial centers like Sabo-Irojo Market, particularly under the supervision of Ilesa East Local Government.
Autonomy Driving Development
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Hon. Balogun attributed the success of the sanitation intervention to the increasing autonomy granted to local government councils nationwide. According to him, greater independence has empowered local authorities to take swift, people-oriented decisions without bureaucratic delays.
He assured residents that the sanitation exercise would extend beyond Sabo-Irojo Market to other parts of the local government area, pledging to clean up nooks and crannies in line with his administration’s commitment to public health and environmental sustainability.
The chairman also urged traders and community members to adopt proper waste disposal practices to complement the council’s efforts.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Haliratu Bamidele, speaking on behalf of traders at the market, commended Hon. Balogun and the council management for the timely intervention. She noted that the clean-up has restored dignity to the trading environment and boosted buyers’ confidence.
She pledged the full cooperation of traders in maintaining cleanliness, emphasizing that collective responsibility is key to sustaining the improved conditions at the market.
Coverage, script ✍️ Camera 📸 Credit: Oladimeji Lasore (+2347035105413, [email protected])
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