*Orders traders to vacate road side
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government is poised to find a lasting solution to the menace of street trading and illegal dumping of refuse in and across the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Modupe Adeleye said this on Friday at a sensitization programme with market men and women.
Mrs. Adeleye stressed that it is time for street traders to vacate the roads or face sanctions, especially within the Ibadan metropolis, adding, street trading impedes the free flow of traffic and operatives of the ministry are resolute to take an uncompromising posture in enforcing street trading laws of Oyo State.
According to the Permanent Secretary, there is the need for collaborative efforts amongst stakeholders at curbing the menace, adding that the exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting anyone.
Mrs. Adeleye tasked market, community and transport union leaders among other stakeholders in the state to caution their members to stop the allocation of trading spots on roads and major streets to traders in the State.
Emphasizing that traders and residents in the state must align with the Oyo State Government in its renewed efforts at curbing indiscriminate waste disposal, she hinted that Oyo State Government has put in place some major efforts, especially by engaging a Waste Management company, Mottainai Recycling Ltd, in tackling refuse disposal and recycling.
Mrs. Adeleye while appealing to traders to adhere strictly to the environmental laws of the State, by patronizing the Government approved Waste consultant and its Accredited Franchisees disclosed that after the sensitization, the Ministry would embark on full enforcement and anyone found culpable will face the wrath of environmental laws operating in the state.
The Babaloja General of Oyo State, Chief Yekin Abass in his remarks called on the traders in the state to strictly adhere to the environmental laws, urging them to put an end to street trading.
Speaking on behalf of traders, the Iyaloja of Bodija International Market, Chief Mrs. Victoria Onipede and her counterpart, the Iyaloja Eleyele Market, Mrs Saliu Akanni collectively promised their unalloyed support through monitoring their members regularly to ensure they adhere strictly to the law of the land.
They also agreed to involve other major stakeholders in the Oyo State Government’s renewed efforts at tackling the menace.
Markets visited include Bodija International Market, Eleyele Market and Sango Markets among others.
