The Lagos State Government has shut down the Ojota Chemical Market due to alleged non compliance with fire safety directives.
The closure follows disagreements between the government and traders over the purchase of fire extinguishers. According to reports, the Lagos State Environmental Safety and Management Control directed every chemical dealer to acquire a 6kg acid powder fire extinguisher.
The commission offered to supply the extinguishers at ₦25,000 each, but traders claimed they could source the same item for ₦17,000 in the open market. Despite claims by traders that they had complied with the directive, the commission accused them of non compliance and subsequently shut down the market. “The question is not whether compliance is important; it is. The question is whether this is the best way to enforce it in a struggling economy,” one industry stakeholder noted.
The traders allege that the commission has demanded ₦10 million, with ₦5 million from each of the two unions in the market, before reopening the facility. The closure has left hundreds of shops under lock and key, with chemical dealers counting huge daily losses. Many fear the prolonged shutdown could cripple their businesses, especially as the economy grapples with high inflation, weakened consumer demand, and sluggish growth.
Observers say while safety compliance is critical, shutting down major trading hubs at a time when the government is pushing for economic recovery may be counterproductive. The closure comes barely months after the government’s demolition of buildings at the Trade Fair International Market, where traders reportedly lost goods worth millions of naira.
The Lagos State Government’s actions have sparked debate over how best to balance regulatory compliance with the need for economic recovery. At a time when Nigeria is striving to revive its fragile economy, government clampdowns are costing traders hundreds of millions of naira.