By Eseoghene Emuke
Chairman of Udu Local Government Council in Delta State, Olorogun Vincent Oyibode, on Saturday, commenced a clampdown on makeshift buildings and other structures built along roads and blocking the free flow of traffic around markets in the council.
Olorogun Oyibode, who had consistently warned traders to remove their structures, said his administration would not tolerate uncivilised trading patterns along major roads in the council, noting that Saturday’s action would be a continuous exercise.
In Saturday’s exercise, the Udu council chairman sent a strong warning to erring traders at the popular Ubogo Market by destroying a structure belonging to his elder sister built along the road and causing traffic gridlock.
Oyibode, who stormed the market with other top council officials, hinted that the destruction of his sister’s illegal structures means that no one will be spared in the clampdown on any structure built on government’s right-of-way.
Addressing newsmen and traders during the sanitation exercise at Ubogo market, the council chairman warned that the council would not tolerate anyone trading along the road and causing gridlock, especially on major roads.
He noted that similar action would be carried out at Udu Express Junction, Orhowhorun, Jugbale, Ujevwu, Otor-Udu and Udu main markets.
Oyibode, who addressed a crowd of traders in Urhobo language, noted that those trading along the road were causing untold hardship plying major roads in Udu, particularly those using the Udu Express Junction/Otor-Udu expressway.
The former commissioner for oil and gas added that he had issued several warning letters and had personally visited some of the major markets to inform them of the council’s desire to clear those trading along market roads as well as removal of illegal structures.
According to him, “I have been warning them for over one year, but they have refused, and today we are here to enforce the law. Where these buildings and structures are situated is part of the road. I have come here to personally inform them to move back and that nobody should trade on the roads. We have not oppressed anyone.
“I have been here severally to inform them. And to send a clear signal to our people, my elder sister owned one of the structures that were destroyed today. This is not a one-off thing. We have warned those in Orhowhorun, Jugbale, Udu Express Junction, and Ujevwu markets.
“I am happy that my administration has achieved milestones over the last one year. Security has improved in Udu. There are no more cult clashes or kidnappings. They know I will not tolerate anything of such. We are doing so much to improve the quality of lives.”
Some of the traders and motorists who spoke commended the council chairman for the action, saying that the action will free the road, particularly at Ubogo market, where travellers are often trapped in gridlock for hours daily.
