Atikankan slum: Ekiti govt threatens to evacuate traders, squatters, others

In continuation of efforts to transform the Atikankan slum in Ado Ekiti into a conducive environment befitting a Central Business District, the Ekiti State Government has given illegal squatters, as well as owners of unauthorized kiosks and roadside hawkers, until Monday to evacuate the area or face forced removal.

The Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement on Sunday, decried the return of hoodlums, squatters, and street traders, as well as the erection of makeshift shops and containers, despite the government’s acquisition of the land and payment of compensation to the original owners.

He warned that a task force comprising government officials and security operatives would commence the removal of shanties and the dislodging of unlawful residents on the specified date.

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Olatunbosun emphasized that the state government’s objective is to revamp the Central Business District and address the longstanding challenges affecting the area. He noted that the land was previously swampy, unfit for human habitation, and a source of security concerns.

According to him, “The state government’s focus is to clean up the slum and upgrade the land so that the area can be used to boost business activities, improve environmental health, and generate revenue for the state.”

He further stated that the government has provided adequate shops and spaces at Agric Olope, Oja Oba, and Awedele, among other locations, to accommodate those affected by the relocation.

The Commissioner highlighted key areas targeted for clean-up and enforcement of the prohibition on street trading and illegal occupancy, covering routes from Ereguru through Aremu, Oke Ori Omi, Isato Oke, and Atikankan Roundabout, extending to Igbeyin, Ilawe Road Junction, Ijigbo, and Mushin.

He warned that owners of marked containers, umbrellas, and other temporary structures must remove them before Monday, January 27, 2025, when the total clearance of the affected areas will commence. He added that a Public Pay-and-Display Parking System will be introduced to ease pedestrian and vehicular traffic along these routes. Additionally, some unemployed individuals in these areas will be engaged as Uniformed Parking Toll Collectors to provide them with a decent means of livelihood.