The Edo State Government has urged residents to desist from trading on walkways, median strips and other unauthorized places in the Benin metropolis.
The government, through the state’s Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) led by Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie, embarked on a massive sensitization across the Benin metropolis, to enlighten residents including street traders, commercial drivers and beggars, among others on the dangers of trading on roads, walkways, and other unauthorized places.
The PUWOV Director of Operations, Mr. Sylvester Omijie, who led other members on a sensitization campaign across major streets and towns in the metropolis, said the campaign is in support of efforts by Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government to ensure sanity in the metropolis.
According to him, “This sensitization campaign is a routine programme that we embark on weekly to educate residents on the dangers of trading on walkways and tarred roads, among others in support of the government’s efforts at ensuring safety and sanity across the state.
“We will be moving from Ring Road to New Benin, and proceed to Third Junction, and other major areas in the metropolis with the same message.
The state government has provided gadgets and other resources to ensure the success of the campaign.
“The Edo State Government, under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki, is committed to ensuring sanity and free flow of traffic within the Benin metropolis, including parks and markets.”
Warning against the activities of beggars in the metropolis, the PUWOV Director stated, “To those beggars at Ring Road, this is to inform you that the government will not tolerate such acts anymore as begging will no longer be allowed on the Ring Road axis.”
Omijie, however, said PUWOV and other agencies of government will, one week after the sensitization exercise, begin enforcement against begging and trading on unauthorized places in the metropolis.