IBADAN – The Oyo State Government on Thursday said it was set to enforce the ban on street trading.
The Commissioner for Environment and Habitat, Mr Lawrence Adewale, stated this in Ibadan at a press conference to mark this year’s World Environment Day.
‘‘The ministry would soon move out in full force to enforce the law banning street trading as it is illegal to sell on the roads.
“It is true that we have relaxed a little bit, thinking that people would have understood the effects of trading on streets.
“ But since things are going back to how it used to be, we would now enforce the law that bans street trading, ” he said.
The United Nations has declared June 5 as the commemorative date for environmental sanitation.
Adewale said directors in the ministry had been instructed to move to the streets to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
“Either YES-O cadets are on ground or not, directors have the mandate to be on the roads as sanity must be brought back,’’ he said.
The commissioner also said the ministry had engaged the services of the state security outfit, Operation Burst, to provide security for officials who would be on the roads.
“We have seen that after 4.00 p.m., people still go on the roads to hawk, we have now put in place 24- hour surveillance.
Adewale also said the state government had begun to take over abandoned structures and bushy land following the recent discovery of a robbers’ den in Soka, Ibadan.
“If you see any area that is full of forest or abandoned buildings or unkempt property, let us know so that we take over such place,’’ he said. (NAN)