…forces traders off the road
By Marvin Enyosa
Petty traders at the popular Baleke Market in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, got the share of their illegal ways of trading within the market environment as the Member representing the local government at the State House of Assembly and the Majority Whip of the Seventh Assembly, Hon. Festus Okoh, well known as, Chuky Dandy, as part of his oversight function, paid an unscheduled visit to inspect the illegality in the market.
The lawmaker who was joined by the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Council, Hon. Barr. Victor Okoh, took advantage of the incessant complaints of residents and motorists which lamented over the blockage of the road by traders shading their wears on the street, and drove all the traders off the road to have them returned into the market to trade.
Prior to the visit of Chuky Dandy, it was commonly noticed that traders of the market had left inside the market to shade their goods mostly consumables and other wares on the road amid great risk.
This act of trading, according to residents of the environment, was done on purpose while hiding under the pretence of lack of funds and insufficient space in the market. Hence, they besiege the road in their multitudes and have the people as well as motorists snarled up in traffic.
Despite series of warnings for the traders to stay off the road, they have remained adamant to sell their goods even under the heat of the scorching sun.
They are not even scared of being knocked down by a vehicle or losing, as multitudes of customers moves unexpectedly.
However, the negative attitude had plugged motorists into difficulties in using the road which includes Baleke street, Akpeyi street and Ojeifo Street, all in Boji-Boji Agbor metropolis.
Speaking to newsmen, the lawmaker frowned at the negative attitudes portrayed by the market women.
He observed that shop owners along Baleke street would also shade their wares on the main road while other petty traders still compounded the problem.
He said, “it is a normal practise for everyone, particularly our women to work hard in order eke a living as laziness leads to hunger and poverty, but it is necessary that they go about their businesses legitimately and not also endanger their lives.
“Shading on the road is no way a positive approach to trade. This has brought terrible experience to road users not to even thinking of the dangers the traders are exposed to while trading on the road.
“It is even shocking that inside the market is empty because the traders left to crowd the road all in name of making sales. However, since they have refused to yield to advice, government will remain resolute in taking necessary actions to have them do the right thing,” Chuky Dandy added.
On his part, the Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Barr. Victor Okoh, pointed out that it was necessary for the traders to stop trading on the road for their own good.
He disclosed that government at the local level has made frantic effort to take vendors off the road, particularly leftover space for motorists, but would not comply. This according to him is a growing concern which government has adopted measures in enforcing the law.
“We are not here to intimidate anybody, rather to have traders do the right thing.
“We have created a new market along Edike street in Agbor which is under construction and big enough to have traders go about their businesses legitimately,” he said.
Conclusively, both leaders further advised traders of Baleke market to adhere to the rules governing the market and, particularly stop trading on the road.
