Oyo govt demolishes 120 shops on Sango-Eleyele road

RESIDENTS and shop owners in Sango, Ibadan North Area of Oyo State, woke up with rude shock on Sunday, when they saw a bulldozer pulling down structures along Sango-Eleyele road.
Some of the shop owners were seen wailing, while others watched helplessly, while sympathisers milled around the road.
The state government, however, said there was no need for surprise, as adequate and long-time notification had been given over the exercise.
A line of the dual-carriage way leading from Sango to Eleyele wasblocked with about five trucks, so that vehicular movement to andfrom Eleyele was restricted to the other lane.
Policemen, who came to protect those working on the road, camein a police Hilux van, branded Ibadan Seven Cities with registration number NPF 2478 C.
About 120 shops had been demolished as at the time of filing this report, while the exercise continued.
Some of the shop owners alleged that they only heard about the demolition three days ago, while others admitted that government had notified them in the last two years.
Mr Lawal Sola Philips, who had a shop in which he sold caskets on the road, said government had been sending notice in the last two years, but that Sunday exercise was too sudden.
Also speaking, Mr Ademola Adejumobi, owner of one of the affected shops, told the Nigerian Tribune that the policy was goodbut the notice was too short.
Another man, who gave his name as Mr Femi Michael Omole, condemned the decision of the government, describing it as wicked.
But the government, speaking through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, told the Nigerian Tribune that if the people heard about the exercise three days before, there should be no need for complaints.
"Government has been notifying them for long. Look at what we have along Ring Road, is that not good for the state?" he asked.