The Ogun State Government has demolished shantytowns and disturbed buildings occupied by street traders in the Kara, Isheri, and OPIC areas on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway as a result of environmental violations.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Farook Akintunde, stated that the exercise was conducted following the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum previously issued to the street vendors to vacate the area.
According to him, the traders had degraded the environment by defecating openly in spite of multiple warnings and abatement notices, which constituted a nuisance to the environment.
Akintunde added that the exercise was required since the makeshift buildings and shanties in that area had turned into danger zones for the residents noting that criminals utilised them as hideouts too.
He said, “The Ogun State Government will not fold its hands and watch a few elements constitute themselves to security threats to our people while camouflaging to be traders in their illegal shanties and makeshift structures.
“To even think of it, no serious businessman will partner us, seeing them at the gateway of our state with their shanties and garbage, so we will not allow them to tarnish our image as the nation’s industrial hub with their filth and environmental carelessness.”
Akintunde noted that the state government would turn the areas into lawns while cautioning the displaced street traders not to try a comeback.
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