Desist from illegal allocation of setbacks, open spaces to traders, Ogun warns traditional rulers

Ogun state government has warned traditional rulers in the State not to use their positions to illegally allocate setbacks and open spaces in their domain to traders for commercial gains.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Alhaji Farook Akintunde gave the warning when he led the state taskforce on Environmental Compliance and Enforcement to demolish all the shanties and makeshift structures at the Akute under bridge and on the wall of the fence of Zumuratul Primary School, Akute.

According to Akintunde, the demolition became necessary following a petition sent to the state government by the Anigilage Community Association and the management of Zumuratul Primary School on the illegal allocation of the spaces at the Akute underbridge and on the walls of school by the traditional ruler of the area for commercial gains.

The allocation and the activities of the traders according to him exposed the residents of the community to avoidable danger, while students of the schools also face untold hardship through noise pollution and unnecessary distraction.

"Aside from the environmental nuisances which they create, no government will fold its hands and watch a traditional ruler illegally allocate setbacks and open spaces to traders instead of him directing them to government designated markets for selfish gains".

"That the wall of the fence of Zumuratul Primary School was even allocated despite knowing that serene atmosphere is needed for learning is not only bad, but constituted an affront to state government's policies of effective learning environment".

"So the state government had no other choice than to restore the environmental and learning dignity of the area by demolishing all the shanties and makeshift structures" "Akintunde added.

He therefore warned the displaced traders not to go back to the recovered spaces as Environmental Marshals have being detailed to apprehend anyone caught.

Speaking, the Chairman, Ifo Local Government, Mrs Kikelomo Delano thanked the state government for heeding the call of the Community Development Association and that the Primary School pledging that the local council will enforce the no-trading order in the demolished areas.