Ogun State government has given all illegal street traders on road setbacks along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway especially those at Kara, Isheri, Warewa a 21-day ultimatum to vacate as part of government’s efforts at restoring environmental sanity to the axis.

Prince Dapo Abiodun gave the directive in a message delivered on his behalf by Ola Oresanya, his Commissioner for Environment, during a meeting with community leaders at the palace of Olofin of Isheri, Oba Sulaiman Adekunle Bamgbade in Isheri.

He said as a first step all their shanties will be demolished for a proper clean-up of the axis in preparation forbeautification of those setback to complement the reconstruction of the expressway by the federal government, stressing that the state government took the decision to dislodge the street traders and demolish all the shanties to restore environmental sanity after several warnings, abatement notices and other entreaties for them to move to government approved markets failed.

He said that aside from the environmental nuisance they constitute, most of their shanties are a security risk to members of the publicas they are used as criminal hideoutsfor street urchins and drug peddlers who rob innocent citizens of their valuables in broad daylight.

Abiodun added that their continuous stay in these filthy shanties which they have converted to homes are of hygienicconcerns to the government as they practice open defecation which can lead to outbreak of communicable diseases in adjoining communities.

”My government will not wait and allow a small group of individuals in the name of trading which are outside approvedmarkets to put the safety and health of our decent people at risk,”Abiodun added.

Oba Bamgbola while responding on behalf of the community leaders pledged the commitment of the residents togovernment’s efforts at ridding the axis of menace of street traders as their shanties are not only posing environmental challenges but are used by criminals to attack innocent residents of the area and other unsuspecting public. (Daily Independent)