The Ogun State Ministry of Environment has vowed to take legal action against violators, who are in the habit of displaying goods on the roadsides and walkways.

          Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Rasaq Ojetola, revealed this during a sensitisation programme in Abeokuta, saying an abasement notice had been served by the officials of the Ministry warning the traders to stop displaying their goods by the roadsides, followed by a 5-day ultimatum notice which would lapse on Monday, August 14, 2023.

          Engr. Ojetola stated that after the expiration of the notices, the government would have no choice but to prosecute defiant traders, adding that the government was highly concerned about the risk to life traders were exposing themselves to, which as a result was causing traffic jams and could lead to accidents, noting that the Ministry has been doing it best at sensitising the traders to desist from the unwholesome act.

          He said, ‘’We have rules and regulations guiding us, we have given them an abasement notice asking them to vacate the walkways and roadsides so the government needs to enforce it’.’

          Also speaking, the Deputy Director, Environmental Health Management in the Ministry, Mrs. Busurat Owodunni, and her team, who were at Olomore T-junction and Lafenwa market to sensitise traders of the government’s intention to drive away traders that engage in roadside, and walkway trading, affirmed that it was against the Environment Miscellaneous Law 2004, to display goods by the roadsides and walkways, warning that anyone found culpable would be charged to court.

          In their separate reactions, the Iyaloja of Olomore T-junction, Mrs. Mutiat Obaleye, and the Treasurer Environmental Sanitation, Lafenwa market, Mrs. Habibat Bamiduro, promised to comply with the government’s directive, pleading with the government to build more stalls and shops for the traders to occupy.