Gov. Dapo Abiodun has given all illegal street traders on road setback along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway especially those at Kara, Isheri Warewa a 21-day ultimatum to vacate as part of government’s efforts at restoring environmental sanity to the axis.
As a first step all their shanties will be demolished for a proper clean – up of the axis in preparation for beautification of those setback to complement the reconstruction of the Expressway by the federal government.
Abiodun gave the directive in a message delivered on his behalf by his Commissioner for Environment,Mr Ola Oresanya during a meeting with community leaders at the palace of Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaiman Adekunle Bamgbade in Isheri.
Abiodun said the state government took the decision to dislodge the street traders and demolish all the shanties to restore environmental sanity after several warnings,abatement notices and other entreatis for them to move to government approved markets failed.
He added that aside from the environmental nuisance they constitute, most of their shanties are security risk to members of the public as they are used as criminal hideouts for street urchins and drug peddlers who rob innocent citizens of their valuables in broad daylight.
Abiodun added that their continuous stay in these filthy shanties which they have converted to homes are of hygienic concerns to the government as they practice open defecation which can lead to outbreak of communicable diseases in adjoining communities.
“So my government will not wait and allow a small group of individuals in the name of trading which is outside approved markets put the safety and health of our decent people at risk”Governor Abiodun added.
Responding, Oba Bamgbola on behalf of the community leaders pledged the commitment of the residents to government’s efforts at ridding the axis of menace of street traders as their shanties are not only posing environmental challenges but are used by criminals to attack innocent residents of the area and other unsuspecting public.
