The Ekiti government, on Monday, commenced full enforcement of ban on roadside trading in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
The enforcement of the ban was carried out by the State Environmental Task Force and another special committee set up by the state government on relocation of traders.
NAN also reports that the committee comprised representatives of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the police, Civil Defence Corps, state Peace Corps and the State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA).
Prof Bolaji Aluko, Special Adviser to the Governor and Director-General, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Delivery (OTSD), led the enforcement exercise.
Aluko explained that the exercise was aimed at reducing accident rate, ensuring clean market places and achieving free drains.
He added that government had provided suitable markets for all categories of traders affected by the ban and relocation in Ado-Ekiti metropolis.
Aluko described the level of compliance by the traders so far as ‘encouraging’, saying that government had succeeded in creating awareness among them through massive media campaign and immense physical sensitisation programmes.
He noted that all the affected roadside traders had been given long notice to vacate their illegal structures before arriving at full enforcement of the quit notice.
Aluko said “This is the first day of the enforcement and many of the traders are aware of what we are saying.
“Today, what we are trying to do is to enforce the ‘no-stall on drainages, streets and walkways, and eventually, we will still ensure that those affected are relocated to the various designated new markets.
“We are going to have two sets of enforcers on daily basis; one from 8:00 am. to 2:00 pm. and the other from 2:00 pm. to 7:00 pm. We intend to do this consistently.
“We will not fight with anybody but every day, we will ensure that nobody sells illegally on roadsides again and create avoidable hazards on the roads,” he added.
NAN recalls that the state government had, two weeks ago, announced ban on roadside trading, directing all traders without approved stalls to relocate to the new markets it had provided.
The Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Mr Akin Omole, later explained that the directive was to ensure people’s safety from avoidable accidents.
Omole also said that it was to ensure improved hygiene in market places and forestall preventable outbreak of diseases.
He said that roadside trading was detrimental to the safety of both the sellers and the buyers, adding that it also constituted environmental nuisance and antithetical to the urban renewal and development plan of the government.
