NAN-AE-11
Warning
By Akeem Abas
Ibadan, June 21, 2017 (2017) The Oyo State Government has warned recalcitrant traders at the Scout Camp Neighbourhood Market to move into the market premises or face sanctions.
Alhaji Abidemi Shiyanbade, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community Relations, gave the warning on Wednesday in Ibadan while addressing traders at the market.
He said that the governor was not happy with some of the traders, who secured stalls in the market but abandoned the stalls for roadside spots.
Shiyanbade said that some traders, who also acquired stalls in the market, resorted to sub-letting them to others at exorbitant prices.
“Gov. Abiola Ajimobi approved that the shops and stalls be given out free of charge to traders since its establishment in 2012.
“We are aware of this corrupt practice at the market and will not tolerate it any longer. All traders in this market should ensure that those allocated shops and stalls must use them
“We will no longer tolerate roadside trading around this place, having provided alternatives.
“We urge you to advise those recalcitrant traders, who are still by the roadside, not to allow the government to forcefully remove them,’’ he said.
Shiyanbade assured the members of the market traders association that the governor had forgiven them of their recent misbehavior.
Earlier, Chief Kehinde Tewogbade, the Babaloja of the market, appealed to the governor to forgive the traders for their recent misconduct.
He said that members of the market traders association had mistakenly protested against the introduction of charges for stalls and shops in the market by the government.
“We thanked the governor for allocating the stalls and shops to us free of charge since 2012. We are very sorry to have gone on air to protest, instead of employing dialogue.
“We want to let the governor to know that we are not ingrates here in this market; we appreciate him and will continue to do so,’’ he said.
Tewogbade assured the Ajimobi-administration that all the traders around would move into the market and urged the government to give them maximum support.
He also appealed to the governor to assist the traders by reviewing the market charges, assuring him that they were ready to pay for their stalls and shops.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government, as part of its efforts to stop roadside trading in the state, built a neighbourhood market in the scout camp area.
The neighbourhood market was particularly constructed to accommodate roadside traders in the Molete, Challenge and Ring Road areas.
NAN reports that the market has two electricity transformers, five boreholes, toilets, lock-up shops and stalls as well as an administrative building. (NAN)
TAA/DO/OOK
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Edited by David Onilede and Dayo Komolafe