The Kwara Government has begun enforcement of compliance on road setbacks in some parts of Ilorin, by ridding the state capital of illegal motor parks.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the enforcement was preceded by public enlightenment on the ills of illegal motor parks.
Officials of the Kwara State Road Traffic Management Authority (KWARMA) had rid off the walkways and road setbacks around the popularly Post Office, Challenge, Ipata market, and Central market, among others, of traders and hawkers.
Those operating illegal motor, tricycle, and motorcycle parks were also moved to the Bus terminus built by the state government at the old secretariat of the Kwara Council for Art and Court.
KWARTMA officials were also seen enforcing evacuation of displayed goods and wares on the pedestrian ways and under the overhead bridge at Post Office.
A passerby, Mr Taiwo Alabi, commended the state government for taking the necessary step to address the challenge.
He said that the open display of goods and wares on road setbacks and walkways had hampered the free movement of pedestrians.
Alabi also explained that the presence of commercial motorists and motorcyclists, who plied Post Office to Tanke resulted in heavy traffic gridlock.
He said that officials of the state Ministry of Environment had cleared the areas in the past but many of them returned shortly afterward.
The state government had mounted road signs in the area with the inscriptions such as “no hawking” and “no trading”, among others.
A commuter, Mr Aderinde Solomon, who is a student of the University of Ilorin, expressed satisfaction over the government’s action.
He, however, regretted the lack of adequate sensitization of commuters preparatory to the enforcement.
According to him, “many of us that normally board vehicles here to our campus on a regular basis could not understand what really happened”.
He, however, said the development would decongest the areas and give room for free movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
A trader in the area, Mrs Medina Ibrahim, appealed to the government to provide an alternative at a very cheap rate for traders to carry out their lawful businesses without any let or hindrance.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Muhammad Saifuddeen, had in preparatory to the enforcement, said the step was taken to avert dangers inherent in road setback encroachment. (NAN)
