Chief Bode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed displeasure over ill treatment of street traders by Lagos State government officials and has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to regulate their activities, saying that the traders are not criminals.
George who disclosed this in an open letter to the Governor on Sunday noted that officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the Central Business District (CBD) throw caution to the wind to abuse their privileges, taking presumed street traders hostage, physically forcing them into their Black Maria vehicles to the bewilderment of members of the public.
He said, “Your Excellency, I bring to your notice the plight of many traders in Lagos State. Lagos is known as the Centre of Excellence but these traders are not being treated ‘Excellently’ by some security agents and government officials on a daily basis.
Apart from lamenting the multiple levies they pay to councils and at the same time subjected to extortion in a most horrendous manner by some thugs and rough-necks, they’re also harassed and flogged like criminals.
“Imagine putting a human being, whose sin is trading on the street inside a Black Maria truck, in this 21th century, a vehicle reserved for hardened criminals.
“I’ve been inundated with the abuses by state officials against their fellow citizens, who are harmless traders on Lagos streets, like Broad Street, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Martins Street, Marina, Oyingbo, Yaba, Ketu, Ojota, Oshodi, Ikeja, Mike 2, Mile 12, Ajegunle, among others. I’m saddened that these vulnerable Nigerians, who the government claimed gave their mandate for the office they are occupying can be treated like slaves.
“This inhuman attitude must be halted forthwith and a more civil approach to treating fellow human beings be embraced for posterity.
Peoplesmind
