With the expiration of the three-day ultimatum given to street traders across Ogun State state, who usually display their wares and products to vacate pedestrian walkways roadsides, under bridges and unauthorized open places, the State government has commenced massive enforcement of the the order, with the call on the traders not to test the will of the government in getting them off the streets permanently.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engineer Rasak Ojetola stated this when he led a Special Task Force, which comprised officials of the Ministry, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) and Ogun State Security Network codenamed Amotekun, to carry out enforcement in major markets in the state capital city of Abeokuta such as Olomore, Kuto, Lafenwa among others.
Ojetola said the Special Task Force during the operation removed the tables, benches, bad wheel rims and tyres, torn umbrellas used by the traders in displaying their wares and products and thereafter stationed environmental marshal in the claimed spaces to enforces the order.
The Permanent Secretary subsquently warned the street traders against testing the will of the government, by returning to the cleared areas to sell, but move to the main markets, where there are enough spaces for them to do their training activities without let and hindrance adding defaulters will face the full wrath of the Environmental Law 2004 which stipulates punishment on street trading.
He added that the State government has barricaded and will soon start the beautification of majority of the spaces recovered during the enforcement adding that the enforcement exercise will soon be extended to the utter parts of the state such as Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Sango Ota, Ifo, Agbara among others to ensure total compliance with the provision of the Environmental Law 2004.
Also speaking, the TRACE Corp Commander, Mr. Seni Ogunyemi said the removal of the benches, tables and others used by the street traders to display their wares on the roads will free the needed spaces for free-flow of traffic and prevent road accidents on the roads as the spaces occupied by the street traders are original provided for vehicular activities.
Also speaking on the development, Mr. Olukayode Aina, the Acting Commander of Amotekun, said the traders will be well protected when they are in government approved and traditional markets rather than be in open places, which exposed them to lots of insecurity.
He advised the traders to comply with government directives of moving to government authorized markets for their own safety and well-being.
