23rd November, 2023
By Adejoke Adeleye/Ogun
Ogun state government has begun the demolition of shanties and makeshift structures used by street traders in Kara, isheri, OPIC axis of the Lagos- Ibadan Expressway for constituting serious environmental infractions in the area.
Leader of the Ogun State Environmental Special Taskforce who is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Alh. Farook Akintunde said the exercise was carried out after the expiration of the twenty-one-day ultimatum earlier given to the street traders to leave the axis.
According to him, their continuous presence in the axis despite several warnings and abatement notices constitutes a nuisance to the environment which they have not only debased but turned to restrooms through open defecation.
Akintunde added that the exercise was also necessary as all the shanties and the makeshift structures have become risks to law-abiding citizens of the state living in that axis as they are used as hideouts by criminals.
“Ogun state government will not fold its hands and watch few elements constitute themselves to security threats to our people while camouflaging to be traders in their illegal shanties and makeshift structures,” Akintunde added.
“To even think of it, no serious businessman will partner us, seeing them at the gateway of our state with their shanties and garbages, so we will not allow them to tarnish our image as the nation’s Industrial hub with their filth and environmental carelessness,” he added.
Moving forward, Akintunde revealed that the state government will immediately green the recovered areas with beautiful grasses and lawns which all residents of the state will be proud of on completion.
He also warned the displaced street traders not to test the will of the state government by attempting to stage a comeback.
Meanwhile, residents of Isheri have praised the state government for the demolition exercise.
Chief Kola Akande, Asipa of Isheri, Barrister Mike Madogwe, Legal Adviser of the Isheri Estate Communities and Engineer Dayo Ayandokun, the assistant general secretary of all communities in the border towns between Ogun and Lagos state said the exercise was commendable.
They also noted that the exercise has brought security relief to the residents of the axis while urging the state government to occupy the claimed areas to forestall comeback of the street traders.