Oyo Gov’t Begins Clampdown On Street Trading

Governor Seyi Makinde-led government of Oyo state has commenced a clampdown on street traders to contain rates of avoidable accidents in the state.

This follows a series of sensitisation by the government across major markets in the capital city, Ibadan.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, July 12, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Modupe Adeleye, said the move is in furtherance of the government’s commitment to putting an end to trading on highways and major streets.

She noted that the government’s sensitisation team had visited several markets including Beere, Oja-Oba, Idi-Arere, Oranyan, Molete, Eleyele, and Bodija.

According to her, the enforcement is in line with the state’s ‘street trading and illegal market prohibition law’, which prescribes specific punishment for buyers and sellers of any goods or services on the roads.

The permanent secretary said the development is also necessary to secure the lives and properties of residents due to escalating records of avoidable accidents caused by the crowding of streets by traders.

“It is no longer news to anyone that the Oyo state government will no longer tolerate street trading and the ministry would be enforcing the law henceforth,” a statement by the director of press and public relations, Rotimi Babalola, quoted Adeleye as saying.

Adeleye appealed to residents to ensure proper disposal of refuse.

She also enjoined market leaders to ensure that members adhere strictly to environmental laws, urging them to engage the government-approved waste management consultant, Mottainai Recycling Ltd.