Osun State Government has urged residents especially street traders to desist from displaying their wares and goods on the walkways within the state capital.
Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Sola Oladepo made the appeal while fielding questions from journalists in his office in Osogbo.
The government had on Monday embarked on an enforcement raid aimed at dislodging and immobilising street traders around Olaiya-Old Garage, Olaiya-Oke-Fia roads and some other major roads across the state capital.
Oladepo who expressed the readiness of Governor Gboyega Oyetola led administration to ensure that Osun become a litter-free state also charged the residents of the state on the need to desist from the habit of dumping refuses on the media of the roads.
The Commissioner said that the enforcement operation would continue in the state until there is full compliance saying, they were determined to stop those who have gained pleasure in littering the state capital.
He noted that over the years these traders have been sensitized adequately on the dangers of street trading but chooses to test the will of the government’s Environmental Protection law.
According to the Commissioner, the ministry of Environment had emphasised on zero tolerance for indiscipline traders that display their wares on the sidewalks, drainages and roads.
He said: “The street traders display their products on the main road thereby inhibiting right of movement of pedestrians and obstructing free flow of traffic for road users. Those that have developed the habit of selling on our walkways and constituting nuisance to traffic and dirty the environment we want to stop them.”
In a bid to ensure that the major towns especially the state capital, Osogbo wear a new look, Oladepo said the state government through the Ministry of Environment will begin planting of trees across the state.
“The state government remains committed to creating a cleaner environment for people of Osun state and will stop at all lawful engagements and acts within the provisions of the law to sensitise and do the needful.
“All we are doing is to remove them from all our walkways. We want to plant tree on the streets so as to ensure that our streets are beautiful. From Abere to Olaiya to Old Garage including the Kobonigbogboe and Ring Roads, we want to including the ring roads, we want to stop those that are selling goods on the walkways
“Many attempts have been made in the past to remove them but they think it’s business as usual, immediately we leave they would go back.
“This one is going to be everyday affairs. Monitoring will continue until we see that they comply. Ayegbaju market is there, they can move their goods to Ayegbaji market it’s not going to cost them anything.
Denying the insinuation that the enforcement operation was due to the ongoing economic summit, Amuda said clean environment would definitely attract investors to invest in the state.
He however, urged drivers especially commercial minibus operators to stop parking their vehicles by the roadside.
