Kunle ADELABU
-Offenders will be arraigned promptly before the court -Council
Hon Wasiu Adesina, Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government
The Chairman of the Ikorodu Local Government, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, is sets to ensure that sanity prevails at Ikorodu garage roundabout and Ayangburen market, popularly called Sabo market, in Ikorodu.
THE IMPACT gathered that the council is planning to achieve this with a special taskforce team that would be permanently stationed at the garage roundabout and market to discourage and arrest erring traders, motorcycle riders or commercial vehicle operators that flout the traffic and environmental regulations.
It was gathered that the chairman met with some of the members of the proposed taskforce which is expected to be inaugurated today (Tuesday).
At the meeting, which was held on Saturday, April 20, were Mrs Ogunshola Adebola, the Head of Environment, Ikorodu Local Government, Mr Sanni Ibrahim, Commandant, Lagos State Neighbourhood Corps (LNSC), Ikorodu Local Government and Mr Adebayo Tajudeen, Commandant,
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
Although, Hon. Awolesi Omotayo was not at the said meeting, but THE IMPACT can authoritatively revealed that he was made the chairman of the special taskforce while the Head of Department (HOD), Environment, is to act as the secretary to the taskforce.
Traders on Ikorodu. Photo credit: Aedeji Fatuga
Other members of the taskforce proposed by the chairman are police officers among others.
It was also gathered that the chairman has given directive to the taskforce to seize goods that are displayed on the road from the burial arcade of Chief T.O.S Benson at Owolowo/Ayangbure junction down to Ikorodu garage roundabout.
The taskforce is also expected to rid Ojubode Junction to United High School junction of traders and beggars.
It was also gathered that arrested erring traders will be immediately arraigned before the Customary Court sitting within the Ikorodu Local Government Secretariat for appropriate sanction.
According to report, the immediate prosecution of offenders is to assure the taskforce members that the council is ready to provide the necessary political will and guide against any external influence in the release of those arrested.
At the meeting, it was also disclosed that the chairman plans call an enlarged meeting soon where the Iyaloja-General in Ikorodu Division, Alhaja Taofeekat Allison, and other market leaders would be in attendance and would be properly briefed on the mission of the taskforce.
The market leaders are to in turn go to their various markets and sensitise their people about the new effort of the council to bring sanity back to these market.
Another crucial issue that was discussed at the meeting was the collection of tolls from those displaying their wares on the road by the ‘Iyalojas’.
It was established that the Council, during the administration of Mr Gbolahan Ogunleye as the Sole Administrator, contracted the collection of the levies out to the market leaders because the council officer in-charge was alleged of issuing fake receipts thereby shortchanging the council.
On this, our source at the said meeting said that Hon. Adesina has ordered the immediate discontinue of such illegal collection since it is illegal to allow traders to display their wares on the street.
Typical nature of Ikorodu road at night. Photocredit: Adedeji Fatuga
The Chairman, in his words, said that, “the situations in those markets are not only chaotic and causing unnecessary traffic but also depict that there is no government in place. We are going to prove to the offenders, through the work of this task force, that we have government in place and we are ready to enforce the laws”.
We also gathered that the Chairman, who has written to the Commissioner of Police in the state regarding the assignment, is also planning to write and interface with the State Taskforce Chairman for continuous clearing of Lagos road to Ikorodu garage axis.
Hon Adesina at the meeting also assured the committee members of full support in terms of logistics and in other areas to make their operations successful.
When contacted, Hon. Adesina confirmed the development to THE IMPACT and assured that the council has the political will to enforce laws in sanitizing the affected areas.
He told THE IMPACT that the operation will be a continuous exercise and added that, “the operation is to make our traders to go back to Obun-Ale, Ajina and other markets that have been abandoned for the road”.
He confirmed that offenders would be immediately arraigned before the court upon their arrest.
In the recent time, the leadership of the Ikorodu Local Government has been criticized for its failure to bring sanity to the Ojubode-Garage roundabout-Lagos road axis of the town where traders defiantly display their wares on the road and hindering free flow of traffic in the process, a situation which, according to some concerned residents, poses danger to the traders.
