Oyo Gov’t to Clamp Down on Street Trading
The Oyo State government has announced its readiness to clamp down on the traders selling by the road sides and that serious steps were being taken to address street trading and other vices in the state.
The Chairperson of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, OYRLEA, Honourable Justice Aderonke Aderemi (rtd.) stated this while participating in a radio program that highlights the activities, achievements and prospects of the Oyo State Government tagged ‘Oro Oyo’.
Justice Aderemi charged citizens to embrace lawfulness, desist from the indecent act of display of wares in walkways and roadsides as this now attracts fines and penalties with immediate enforcement.
‘’We need to maintain a clean environment, orderliness, coordination and sustainability of the infrastructural architecture of the State in order to attract foreign and local investors for the social-economic development of our dear State” she added.
Noting that it has become worrisome having to spend many hours in traffic caused by illegal display of wares by the roads thereby impeding traffic flow, coupled with the negative and harmful effects street trading is having on the lives of residents and State’s image at large.
In her words, “Road side traders should get ready to face the full weight of the law and instant legal consequences”
Speaking further, Justice Aderemi said enforcement team from OYRLEA in collaboration with the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources would be deployed to carry out an all-around operation on intense sensitization and awareness drive in major market areas like , Bodija, Sanngo, New Bola Ige, Oje, Gate, Dugbe, Challenge -Orita, Aleshinloye, Eleyele, Akobo-General Gas, Bashorun amongst others. Adding that town criers will move round with the team to create maximum awareness before enforcement would then take place.
She maintained that it is now illegal to dump refuse on road medians, roundabouts, drainage channels and gutters.
However, The enforcement of the order is not to cause panic or misconception among the traders conducting business in the affected areas but to ensure compliance, safety and a thriving environment that is law abiding and safe for all’ in her words.