101 street traders sentenced in Edo

Some of the traders have chosen to serve the 14 day sentence rather than pay the N10, 000 fine.

Hassan Okundia, the Coordinator of Edo Environmental Protection Agency, said on Wednesday that more than 101 street traders have been sentenced for violating environmental laws.

Mr. Okundia said in Benin that the traders were sentenced by a mobile court set up by the Agency.

He said the traders were sentenced to 14 days in prison with an option of fine of N10,000.

Mr. Okondia said that some of the traders have paid the fine while others chose to complete their sentence. Aside the 101 persons already sentenced, the coordinator said, 12 others were also awaiting trial for falling victim of the law.

“We are not haunting anybody but the Agency is trying to sanitise and sustain the Benin master plan and beautification programme.

“This action is to ease flow of traffic, manage the waste, and reduce accidents within the city.

“They should all go into the market because they are blocking those inside the market from getting costumers. The goods they display on the road would be better sold inside the market.’’

Mr. Okundia said the dirty state of the town is a result of the activities of street traders, who only littered but never took part in cleaning up of the mess.

“They mess up everywhere before they go home and ruin our efforts at maintaining pedestrian safety and traffic flow.

“So the Mobile Court will continue to sit and sentence erring citizens.

“It is going to be a continues process until the streets of Benin are completely devoid of street trading,” he said.