By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
Oyo State government has directed traders, artisans, motor dealers, and vendors occupying pedestrian walkways and roadside spaces to vacate the areas or face penalties.
The warning was issued by the State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) Chairman, Major Adesagba Adekoya (rtd), at his office, secretariat, Ibadan.
Adekoya stated that using walkways for business was illegal and created traffic bottlenecks, accidents, and inconvenience for shoppers.
He identified hot-spot locations where illegal trading was prevalent, including University of Ibadan (UI) area, Samonda, Mokola, and others.
He said: “Traders are required to relocate to designated market spaces immediately, especially during the festive period.”
Adekoya warned that non-compliance would result in fines and court appearances.
In the meantime, the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the state government commended OYRTMA’s efforts to “improve road safety and public order,” and reiterated its commitment to upgrading infrastructure and ensuring safe movement throughout the state.
South-West APC Speaks On Insecurity
In another development, the South-West All Progressives Congress (APC) today weighed in on public discourse of the prevailing nationwide insecurity and called for collaborative efforts to stem the scourge.
Piqued by the rising cases of killings, kidnapping and other organised crimes in parts of the country, APC in the South-West geopolitcal zone charged all stakeholders to urgently come up with plans and actions capable of salvaging the situation, even as it blamed the development on “some enemies within and outside who do not wish the nation well.”
Tension among Nigerians heightened, following the reported incident of simultaneous abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and Niger states as well as killing of some worshippers inside a church in Kwara State where more than a dozen residents were also whisked away by the attacking gunmen.
However, all the abducted persons have been rescued and being taken care of by government.
In a statement issued on Friday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, by its South-West Zonal Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ayobami Afolabi, APC lauded the Federal Government (FG) and governments of the affected states for their swift response and coordinated efforts which yielded the timely rescue of all the victims of the attacks from their abductors.
“In recent times, there has been an increase in cases of violent attacks against some innocent citizens, especially in the Northern part of the country; and the pattern of these reported incidents were similar.
“This validated the opinion of many pundits who had established the fact that cases of terrorism, banditry and related crimes in Nigeria were being sponsored from within and outside for political and economic interests.
“To this end, every patriotic citizen must rise up to the challenge in their private and official capacities. There is no economic or political status desired by any individual or groups that is worth the lives of innocent people who fall victims of violent attacks, as the situation calls for collaborative efforts and decisive actions from those in power and the rest of the citizenry.
“State governors have to encourage and empower community-based security outfits to complement the efforts of federal security agencies, while residents should help in the area of intelligence gathering.
“Undoubtedly, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is poised to deliver his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to benefit all parts of the country as well as every citizen and resident of Nigeria.
“We should not play into the hands of those who do not wish our country well. With the latest declaration of state of emergency on security and the directive on mass recruitment into the Army and Police Force by the President, sponsors of insecurity and their agents should have a rethink, as all saboteurs will have themselves to blame.” Afolabi added.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
