Ismaeel Uthman
A Civil Society group in the State of Osun, Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), has asked the state government and police to avoid imminent disaster and be strict with people trading on the road and by the roadsides.
CSJPP said trading on the road is assuming a dangerous trend in Osun as traders have formed the habit of occupying half of the road on market days.
According to the group in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Akin Akanji, on Thursday, buying and selling by the roadside and on major roads in some cities in the state have remained unabated, calling on the government and police to avoid looming disaster with such practice.
The group accused the government of lack of political will to stop such ugly practice, claiming that the police have also been compromised by markets leaders.
The statement reads in part: “Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), has observed, with serious concern, the unabated buying and selling by the roadside and on major roads in some cities in Osun State.
“We note with serious warning to the State Government and the traders that there is looming danger if the practice of marketing on the road is not stop with immediate effect.
“It is a known fact that traders at Igbonna, Ota-Efun, Akindeko and Oluode markets in Osogbo; those at Odo-Ori market in Iwo, Oje market in Ede, Owode market in Owode-Ede, Alamisi market in Ikirun, Obada market in Iree and Sabo market in Ile-Ife, among others, have continuously been trading on the roads, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic.
“On the market day of each of these markets, traders are in the habit of occupying half of the road with their goods and product. They don’t care for vehicle and vehicular movements. Most importantly, they don’t care for their lives.
“Most worrying is the compromise of the police and local government officials that are supposed to be enforcing ‘no trading on the road or by the roadside’ at these markets. As observed, the policemen would rather be strict with motorists instead of chasing away the traders that have occupied half of the road.
“We want to believe, as informed by some members of the public, that leaders of these markets have been robbing the palm of the police at various Divisional Police headquarters where the markets are located.
“We also observed that the state government has been paying lip service to getting these recalcitrant traders off the road. It is either the government lacks the political will to enforce ‘no trading on the road or by the roadside’ or it does not care for the safety of lives of the people. Either of this is not complimentary for a responsive government.
“There are many dangers associated with trading on the road or by the roadside. We want to remind Governor Oyetola and Local Government Chairmen across the state that security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of the government. If the political heads of the state are unwilling to do the right thing for political considerations, they will be held responsible for the imminent disaster.
“It is not safe for people to be trading on the road. The National Orientation Agency and the Ministry of Information and Civil Orientation in the state should wake up to their duty of sensitizing the people of the danger associated with tradition on the road. A stich in time saves nine.”
