From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Kwara State House of Assembly, has urged the state government to establish more modern markets to address the growing issue of roadside trading.
This call came following a motion titled “Need to Relocate Roadside/Street Traders on Road Setbacks to Existing Markets in Line with the Urban Renewal and Road Setback Reclamation Programmes of the Kwara State Government,” presented by Hon. Babatunde Ayi Olatundun, who represents Ilorin North West constituency.
During the debate on the motion, Hon. Olatundun highlighted that roadside trading is undermining the urban renewal efforts of the Kwara State Government. She advocated for relocating these traders to vacant shops and open spaces within the state.
Other members of the House also voiced concerns about the dangers associated with roadside trading and urged traders to stop occupying road setbacks.
Speaker, Engineer Yakubu Salihu, in supporting the motion, called on the state governor to instruct the Ministry of Business Innovation and Technology to create incentives and schemes to make existing unused markets more appealing and accessible to traders.
