Kwara Govt Advises Marketers To End Road Encroachment, Says Prosecution Await Offenders

Ilorin, Kwara State – The Kwara State Government has issued a stern advisory to local marketers in a renewed effort to maintain order and safety on the streets of the Ilorin metropolis.

This is contained in a statement by Yakub Kamaldeen Aliagan, Press Secretary, MOE, who disclosed that the State Commissioner for Environment, Mallam Shehu Ndanusa Usman, calls for an end to the practice of displaying goods on pedestrian paths, medians, and other areas that obstruct both vehicular and pedestrian movement.

Mr  Ndanusa gave this advise during the enforcement of environmental laws today at Maraba, Post Office, Ipata and other market places, in the Ilorin, the State Capital.

According to him, ” we are set out to enforce environmental laws that prohibit marketers from encroaching or displaying of wares on road dividers, to allow free movement of people and vehicles that plies our roads.

“Let me use this medium to tell you that henceforth, anybody caught selling goods on pedestrian or road medians will be arrested and prosecuted immediately”.

He, however reiterated the commitment of the present administration to put sanity on our roads, in order to allow free vehicular movements and prevent incessant havoc often caused by the encroachment of roads.

In her response, the Iyaloja of Ipata Marketers Association, Alhaja Bilikisu Elejagbigbe commended the present administration for taking the bold step to stop indiscipline in the market, most especially, those who encroach on roads by displaying their wares.

She therefore reassured Government of their readiness to support them to return sanity into the market.

Meanwhile, 10 offenders were prosecuted by Chief Magistrate Aluko for various violations of environmental laws, with others still awaiting trial from the field.