Sango Tollgate: Ogun Bans Street Trading, Demolishes Shanties Over Safety Concerns

Sango Tollgate: Ogun Bans Street Trading, Demolishes Shanties Over Safety Concerns

The Ogun State Government has intensified its crackdown on street trading around the Sango Tollgate axis, demolishing shanties and temporary structures along the Ogun–Lagos border in a move aimed at reducing accidents, improving traffic flow, and enhancing public safety.

The enforcement exercise, carried out on Tuesday, specifically targeted illegal structures erected on road setbacks and beneath the bridge—areas officials say have become hotspots for traffic obstruction, environmental hazards, and avoidable fatalities.

Leading the operation, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Kafayat Lawal, explained that the action followed repeated warnings issued to traders occupying the affected locations. She said the government had provided an alternative trading space at Plaza Road in Sango to accommodate displaced traders and ensure continuity of legitimate commercial activities.

According to her, the decision to clear the area was driven by the need to prevent further loss of lives and injuries linked to street trading around the busy tollgate corridor. The Sango Tollgate axis, a major link between Lagos and Ogun States, experiences heavy vehicular and pedestrian movement daily, making unregulated trading activities particularly risky.

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Lawal emphasized that street trading under bridges and along road setbacks often exposes traders and commuters to dangers, including road accidents and emergency situations where escape routes are obstructed. She noted that the government could no longer allow such practices to persist given the associated safety concerns.

She further warned that the enforcement would be sustained, adding that anyone who returns to trade at the tollgate or under the bridge would face legal consequences in line with state regulations. Authorities also indicated that monitoring and compliance checks would continue to prevent a resurgence of illegal structures in the area.

The state government reiterated that the clearance exercise is part of its broader urban management and environmental sanitation strategy, which aims to decongest public spaces, enforce planning laws, and protect lives and property. Officials maintain that while economic activities are important, they must be conducted within designated and safe environments.

Reactions from residents and commuters have been mixed, with some praising the government for addressing long-standing safety concerns, while others called for sustained engagement and support for traders to help them transition smoothly to approved markets.

Sango Tollgate: Ogun Bans Street Trading, Demolishes Shanties Over Safety Concerns