Edo government has commenced the enforcement of its “Operation Clean up Benin City” from street trading and indiscriminate parking of vehicles.
The Mr Tony Adun-led Task Force set up by the government for that purpose, commenced the clean-up of some areas of the metropolis on Monday.
Members of the task force cleared traders, vehicles and refuse from the popular Lagos Street, Ring road, Mission road, Oba market and other streets in the metropolis.
Speaking with newsmen during the operation, Adun solicited the assistance of the security agencies to ensure unhindered conduct of the exercise.
He said that some of the beneficiaries of what he described as the “madness” at Ring road and Lagos Street were threatening members of the task force with arms.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that over the years, Lagos Street, Ring road and other adjourning streets had become impassable due to street trading, heaps of refuse and the activities of bus drivers.
The Secretary to the State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie, who reacted to the development, urged the affected traders to utilise the shops in the markets.
He warned that the government would no longer tolerate what he described as “disorganised Benin City.”
He said: “you recall that about a month ago, we had a stakeholders meeting where we invited residents from the streets around the King Square, Ebo Street, Tebite, Ugboagbe and others.
“We told them that we cannot continue business as usual and there was need to clean up Benin City.
“In doing that, we also agreed that the existing markets have enough spaces for our traders.
“The governor inspected Oba market and we found that half of the shops there are unoccupied.
“The same thing with Agbado market; in fact the whole of Uwa market is empty.
“So today we started with Ring road and Lagos Street; we intend to follow it up to other streets; all traders on the walk way are prohibited.
“We will not allow it, our roads must become passable again; traffic must flow on Ring Road, Lagos Street and other roads.
“For over ten years now, Lagos street have become impassable, but the government has resolved to clear those areas.”
Ogie said that the government had identified bus terminals where bus drivers could park their vehicles instead of parking on Ring road.
“You will recall that during the administration of Gov. Adams Oshiomhole, certain roads were rehabilitated around Oba market to make traffic movable.
“We intend to put on ground enforcement units within our traffic agencies to make sure that drivers of buses and other vehicles do their businesses without obstructing traffic at Ring road.
“We have a market coming up at Ute, Ikweniro, one in Oredo, another one at Sapele Road near Ekae, we have several markets in Benin but people choose to abandon them to trade on the roads.
“Our markets are empty, we are cleaning up all the markets for them to do their businesses, not on the roads anymore,” Ogie declared.
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