Ekiti govt warns traders against displaying goods on road sides
The Ekiti State Government has warned traders against displaying their goods by the roadside particularly in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, gave the warning during a chat with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.
Olatubosun described street trading as unwholesome and dangerous, noting that displaying goods by the roadside was affecting free flow of traffic and compounding waste management problem in the state.
He also added that the practice often causes avoidable accidents with possible loss of lives and property.
“Street trading is a major cause for concern and some of the identified problems include traffic congestion, waste management and unhealthy competition.
“Environmental wastes generated by street traders lead to obstruction of drainage, flooding during rainfall, road dilapidation with most of the street traders littering the environment but rarely taking part in cleaning up the mess,” the commissioner noted.
He said that the state government had built several markets in Ado-Ekiti metropolis including the Agric Olope market, Awedele off Iyin road and the Tosin Aluko market along Ikere road to decongest the main Oja Oba, Oja Bisi and Okesha markets.
According to him, the markets have proper sanitation facilities, good access roads and adequate security arrangement.
Olatunbosun added that efforts are ongoing to relocate the street traders to the more comfortable locations to secure their lives and property as well as boosting their wellbeing.
He urged the traders to take advantage of government’s gesture by relocating from the hazardous locations they display their wares to a more conducive environments provided to enhance their trade and boost their economic.
The commissioner warned that environmental officials would frequently visit the markets to ensure compliance and proper sanitation, adding that culprits would be prosecuted in accordance with the state environmental laws.
