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.
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.
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 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 afterwards.
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 lack of adequate sensitisation of commuters preparatory to the enforcement.
According to him, “many of us that normally board vehicles here to our campus on regular basis could not understand what really happened”.
A trader in the area, Mrs Medina Ibrahim, appealed to the government to provide 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.
