The Speaker of the state of Osun House of Assembly, Najeem Folasayo Salaam, said the state House of Assembly is ready to put an end to street trading and illegal markets in the state.
This was disclosed during the consideration of a bill on street trading and illegal markets set up on Thursday, March 24, at Osogbo, the Osun capital.
Salaam stressed that it would be an offence for any person or group of persons to engage in street hawking or operate in illegal markets in the state once the bill becomes law. He said the law would promote the cleanliness of the state stating that this was one of the major aims of the government.
The speaker, who stated that street trading had claimed the lives of many on the highway, said the bill, when passed into law would prevent this. “This bill is meant to ensure that we cleanse our environment and this will portray us as serious people who understand the importance of cleanliness.
“When it becomes law, it will take care of the welfare and hygiene of our people and also secure the lives of the people that hawk on the highways,’’ he said.
According to the bill, anyone caught involved in street hawking as a first offender will pay N2,000 fine without imprisonment. A second offender would according to the bill pay N3,000 fine without imprisonment while a third offender would face being imprisoned for three months and also pay a fine of N5,000
According to reports, the bill when passed into law would take effect from places like Osogbo, Ede, Ile-Ife, Ilesa, Iwo and Ikire. The law would be extended to other places beyond Ikirun, Ejigbo and Ila-Orangun over time.
Recently, some markets were closed in Ota, Ado-Odo of Ota local Government Area of Ogun state by the governor, Ibikunle Amosun. These markets were closed as a result of the violation of environmental laws. The reopening of the markets for business for the market became possible when market men and women cleaned it up to conform to environmental law and order.
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