The Ogun State government has warned traders to stay off walkways and desist from blocking drainage in marketplaces and environs.
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the State Governor on Environment and the Chairman, Task Force Committee on Environment, Farouk Akintunde, gave the warning during an inspection of the state Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) to Sango-Ota and Ifo markets.
Addressing traders who obstructed free vehicular movement, Akintunde said a lot of advocacy was ongoing, stating that meetings had been held with stakeholders such as, “Iyalojas” and “Babalojas”, to enlighten traders and caution them not to risk their lives because they wanted to make a living. He observed that some had built shanties or dumped refuse in drainage, thereby blocking the flow of sewage and preventing free movement of vehicles and pedestrians.
He said the narrow road at Ifo was a host to articulated vehicles.
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The governor’s aide, who hinted that advocacy, monitoring and inspection of markets and garages would be a continuous exercise, added that the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, recently had a meeting with enforcement officers in the ministry, on the need to brace up in their activities and put measures in place to ensure compliance.
He warned that violators would be penalised, in accordance with the law, while their goods or wares would be confiscated.
