Accidents: Ogun to relocate motor park, end street trading at Sango tollgate

The Ogun State Government has announced plans to relocate the illegal motor park and eradicate street trading at the Sango Tollgate area in a bid to end the frequent road accidents recorded at the busy border point between Ogun and Lagos states.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, made the announcement during an inspection visit to the area with officials from the Ministry of Environment, the Ogun State Waste Management Authority, and the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government.

The visit was aimed at identifying a lasting solution to the persistent accidents around the tollgate.

In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, Oresanya said the move followed a directive from the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who is concerned about the recurring loss of lives at the location.

“I have the directive of the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is worried and concerned about the incessant loss of lives, to investigate and find a lasting solution to the unfortunate and avoidable accidents at this tollgate,” he said.

According to the commissioner, after reviewing the situation with government officials and stakeholders, the state government decided to relocate the illegal motor park and remove street trading activities that have existed at the tollgate for more than two decades.

“After careful review of the situation on the ground with other government officials and stakeholders, the state government has decided to relocate the illegal motor park and eradicate street trading that has been in existence at the tollgate for the past twenty-five years to more recognised and better organised places far away from the area,” Oresanya said.

He explained that the activities of interstate buses and traders around the tollgate have contributed to congestion and increased the risk of accidents along the busy corridor.

To prevent the return of traders and buses to the location, the commissioner said the state government would implement enforcement measures in collaboration with local authorities.

“To prevent interstate buses and street traders from going back to the spot, the state government, in conjunction with the local government, will construct barricades on both sides of the tollgate area,” he added.

Oresanya further stated that officials of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority would carry out a comprehensive clean-up of the area, while environmental marshals from the Ministry of Environment and officials of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government would monitor the location to ensure compliance with the new directive.

The relocation and enforcement exercise, he said, is expected to commence within the next few days as part of efforts to restore order and improve safety at the Sango Tollgate corridor.

Report that the governor had condemned the reckless driving habits of some truck operators plying the Sango–Ota corridor following a fatal accident at the Ota Toll Gate area that claimed seven lives.

Culled from punch