Street trading has become one of the major issues that continue to plague the road network in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. While commuters and motorists are increasingly becoming helpless over the development as it hinders traffic flow and causes avoidable accidents, the situation poses significant risks to the traders as well.

Despite the ban on street trading on Ibadan roads, some traders have remained adamant and openly display their wares on the medians of the prohibited roads.

Investigations by The Guardian showed that the Task Force operatives saddled with the responsibility of apprehending those who violate the law seem to have compromised as they often overlook the activities of these traders. As a result, street traders have returned to many roads in Ibadan in their numbers.

For instance, street traders besiege the Gate area of the city on a daily basis, especially after working hours, selling their wares. Also, along Underbridge, Iwo road linking to Olodo, vendors set up stalls on the median strips, taking up valuable space and obstructing traffic flow.

Similarly, Oje, Bola Ige market, popularly known as Gbagi market, which links to the Airport  and Oja Oba has become a nightmare for vehicular movement because of the activities of the traders who display their wares on the road. Mokola, Iwo road markets are not left out either, as traders have erected wooden stalls on the road. This has led to avoidable accidents and near-misses as drivers struggle to navigate through the congested roads. This is even further complicated at night.

Lamenting the situation, a motorist, Olamide Ojo, said: “I have had to swerve several times to avoid hitting pedestrians and vendors who are selling their wares on the road. It is frustrating because some of these vendors don’t seem to care about their safety or the safety of others.”

A civil servant, Iyabo Oladiti, stressed that street trading had resulted in accidents that claimed many lives.

She said during the reconstruction of the Olodo bridge, many traders tragically lost their lives but some still continued roadside trading as if it meant nothing.

“Till now, drivers make u-turn near the trading area, yet the traders remain unmoved,” she said.

A resident at Mokola area of the city, Tayo Badmus, decried the situation at Mokola-Sabo axis, saying the place has become a death trap for unsuspecting pedestrians and commuters.

She said: “Traders have turned the walkway to their shops, replacing their usual wheelbarrows and trays with tables, forcing pedestrians to struggle with tricycle riders and motorists for right of way.”

Badmus urged the state government not just to enforce compliance but to apprehend and sanction any trader found operating on the road.

A teacher, Femi Ige, who is conversant with Oje, Oja’ba road, said that the government has actually done well by prohibiting street traders on main roads owing to disorganised trading and commercial activities that  most times put residents and street traders in danger.

“There is no justification for street traders causing unwarranted obstruction of traffic and violating the law. They know the implications of what they are doing on road medians, which is enough for the government to ban them. This has led to illegal dumping of waste.

“Definitely, no government would fold its hands and allow street traders to constitute a nuisance to public health. If you look at Agodi-Gate, walkways meant for people to wait for vehicles that will take them to their various destinations have been hijacked by the street traders despite the fact that the government provided a secure space for commuters,” Ige said.

Recently, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbojuola, gave an ultimatum to occupants and owners of illegally erected kiosks, containers and shanties to vacate the roadsides or face the full wrath of the law.

Mogbojubola said their activities have been constituting nuisance to public health, adding that “the act has been causing unwarranted obstruction of free flow of traffic, passersby and vehicles” contrary to the Environmental Sanitation Regulation, 2013.

“Illegal operations should be halted, especially on the road sides and drainages occupied by the individuals and you must vacate this place in seven days,” he said.

He noted that business activities should be relocated to more suitable places meant for them in the neighbourhood markets. This, he said, would curb road accidents and loss of lives and properties.

During a visit to Ojoo and Bodija markets, it was observed that there was no street trading, which allowed pedestrians and motorists to move freely.

However, The Guardian observed that many residents preferred to buy at the roadside markets because it is an avenue to purchase goods at discounted prices, even as it saves them the stress of going to the regular markets.

It was learnt that a major issue that undermines the government’s efforts  to eradicate the menace, through seizures of goods displayed on the roads, is non-availability of enough trading spaces where people can engage in buying and selling.

Recently, The Guardian witnessed a scene where street traders were running helter-skelter with their wares to evade being arrested by task force officials and their wares seized. After the incident, many of them stated that if there were suitable and affordable alternative venues around Iwo Road, they would gladly leave the streets.

Grace Chukwuka said: “I am speaking for many traders here. If we are granted an open secure space where consumers can easily find us, we will move there and maintain them. We are not law violators; we are compelled to sell on the streets due to the lack of selling spaces. If we are provided with an alternative, we will willingly relocate from the streets.”

Shade Adediran, who sells pepper at Iwo Road, also said: “This is our only means of survival. We know it is not safe but we have no choice. The government should provide us with alternative spaces to sell our goods.”

However, a fruit seller, Bisi Adelakun, said she has been selling fruits and vegetables on the same road for over five years and was comfortable trading there.

She stated that she was used to street trading and has regular customers that patronise her, adding that moving her stall to a distant location would disrupt her business and affect her income.

“I have been selling fruits and vegetables here for over five years now. The government asking us to vacate the road will lead to financial losses for us especially in this current economic situation. We cannot afford to move our stalls to a distant location.

“I have built a loyal customer base over the years and I don’t want to lose them. We want the government to provide us with alternative locations where our customers can easily locate us and where we can operate without disrupting traffic flow.

“We are willing to work with the government to find a solution but we cannot be forced out of business without a plan in place,” she said.