The Oyo State Government has handed a two-week ultimatum to traders operating along Airport Road, Old Ife Road, and Onipepeye in Ibadan to vacate the roadsides or face decisive enforcement action.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Dr. Suleimon Olanrewaju, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, the government warned that it would no longer condone illegal trading activities on walkways, drainages, and road verges.
According to the statement, the state has provided adequate and designated markets for trading within the city, making roadside operations unnecessary and unsafe.
“The government has a duty to protect citizens from danger. Trading on roadsides and drainages not only endangers lives but also causes environmental hazards and obstructs public infrastructure”, the statement read.
It further noted that the continued occupation of walkways and drainage channels by traders contributes to flooding and undermines the government’s urban renewal and tourism promotion efforts.
The government emphasized that the ultimatum, which expires on October 27, would be followed by strict enforcement measures.
“Non-compliance will attract the confiscation of goods and possible prosecution of offenders,” the statement warned.
It appealed to residents and traders to cooperate with the directive, assuring that the move aims to create a cleaner, safer, and more organized environment across the state.
