By Olawale Abdul-Fatah
Days after shutting down Oyingbo market and dislodging traders that displayed their wares on the streets to the market in Lagos, the State Government on Friday disclosed other axes where traders will suffer same fate as them.
The State Government listed parts of Lagos where traders would also experience the Oyingbo market strategy to include Marina, Agege, Mushin, Alimosho and Obalende. And some of the markets in these locations were Daleko Market in Mushin; Ikotun Market in Alimosho; Dopemu and Agege markets in Agege, Breadfruit market in Marina, and others.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, in a statement made available by the ministry of Information and Strategy, stressed that massive enforcement exercise will soon be extended to these domains.
Bello argued that the best strategy to avoid the wrath of the law was for all traders in the markets identified and those dispersed from the roads in Oyingbo to return into the main market.
He said the illegal street traders create traffic bottlenecks and impede the free flow of traffic, charging Oyingbo market leaders to meet the Chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Government immediately to fashion out ways of accommodating the street traders in the main market.
While warning that the State government will no longer condone the excesses of traders who have abandoned the market for the streets, Bello said the activities of traders impeding traffic is unacceptable, thus the government is left with no other option than to clamp down on those who slow down other road users and also litter the roads with refuse.
Bello maintained that despite several warnings, the traders have continued to litter the market, the streets and refused to patronise PSP operators.
The Commissioner said that rather than waste time to plead or appeal to the State government, the traders and their leaders should adopt corrective measures by desisting from street trading and patronising PSP operators.
He disclosed that operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC, have been drafted to the market and the adjoining streets with standing instructions to arrest any street trader found within the vicinity, warning that any operative found collaborating with street traders will face stern disciplinary measures.
