Oyo Govt Set To Arrest Roadside Traders

Oyo State government has issued a warning to street traders to move their wares off the streets and traffic pathway of all major markets in the state, or face strict penalties in accordance with the state environmental laws.

Chairman of the state Environmental Task Force, ACP Francis Ojomo, issued the warning on Thursday, saying the measure was aimed at ridding the roadside of trading, facilitate a smooth flow of traffic and reduce accidents resulting in loss of lives.

Addressing the press after the weekly environmental sanitation exercise within the Ibadan metropolis, he said the state would no longer tolerate such act any more after several weeks of intense sensitisation and community mobilisation, adding that the enabling environmental laws would be visited on offenders.

“The state government, through this Task Force, has engaged the people throughout the state on sensitisation against the hazards inherent in disobeying environmental laws, especially on street trading.

“So many lives have been lost to careless driving along these major markets. Where the government has provided stalls and shops for traders, it is expected that they will make use of it instead of roadside. We shall henceforth start applying the law against offenders, they should be note that,” Ojomo hinted.

Traders in the metal scrap part of the Aleshinloye Market were particularly enjoined to move their wares from the road to ease vehicular movement within the market.

ACP Ojomo also appealed to road transport workers to only pick up and dispatch passengers at designated bus stops and should avoid indiscriminate parking at unauthorised points.

He said the measures were put in place to achieve civil orderliness and safeguard the lives of citizens while giving room for economic development of the people.