By Onaivi Cephas
Anyone who was familiar with the unsightliness and disorderliness that defined the King’s Square and its environs in the famous capital city of Benin, Edo State, would be forgiven if they had imagined that the inhabitants of those areas had signed an unbroken pact with filth and disorganisation.
It was not equally impossible that visitors who witnessed the horrendous disorder and sickening dirtiness which supervened in those locales had thoughts in their minds that they were parts of what constitute the cultures of the Edo people. What reigned in those localities was, no doubt, the stuff of shame. They not only detracted from the lofty culture of cleanliness and order that stand out the Edo people, they also saw to the loss of valuable productive hours, shrunk human dignity, and stifled economic progress.
Trading flourished errantly on roads and street traders virtually took over two of the three lanes on either side of the roads, wastes providing an eyesore. The environment was insufferably dirty and frontally debased public health.
It was a yoke. One that successive administrations made efforts to cure with devastating consequences. Then came the new administration superintendent by Godwin Obaseki. It recognised the malaise as oppressive, obstructive, and demeaning. Clear-headed in its mind about how to pilot the plane of enduring development in the state to the next orbit, the new administration wasted no time in fashioning out a solution to the problem of filths, congestions, and disorderliness around the state, beginning from Benin.
That coordinated response is encapsulated in the initiative christened Edo Clean-up Project. It is the red card of the state government to the offensive practices of turning major roads into trading posts and dunghills, and to the disruptive undertakings that make human and vehicular movements needlessly laborious and hurtful.
With unrelenting decisiveness of termites, the enforcement team of the government launched into action, beginning from the major streets around the King’s Square. Those filthy streets played host to the cleansing implements of the Clean-up Project recently. The resultant effects of those structured purging actions are evident in the applauded restoration of order, cleanliness, and free-flow of vehicles and people.
The understanding of some people by this action of government is that nothing is impossible when the machinery of government is manned by people who are truly committed to the success and wellbeing of those from whom they got their mandate.
As it was in Lagos with respect to the famed Oshodi and other notoriously chaotic, congested, and grimy areas in state, there were people who had thought the clearing and cleaning of the disorderly, murky, and choked roads and streets around the King’s Square in Benin would be impossible to reclaim and transformed.
But just when it happened against all cynicism and doubt, another sarcastic question loomed in the sky of the liberated areas: Would this last? The apt answer to this inquiry came from the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Osarodion Ogie.
The chief scribe revealed in his address to journalists that the state government was strongly resolved to sustain the cleaning up of Edo. He explained that the government’s objective with the Edo Clean-up Project was aimed at modernising the state, making it one of the cleanest in the federation, ensuring that law and orderliness prevailed without let or hindrance.
He said the unbefitting practice in which traders deserted designated markets and emptied into walkways, roadsides, and major streets for trading activities was no longer acceptable to the government.
Speaking further, the SSG announced some of the efforts being taken by the state government to make sure that markets within the state are fixed and conducive for the business of buying and selling.
According to him, “Edo State government has engaged four contractors to clean up Oba market, fix steel doors in the market to replace all the wooden doors to prevent fire. The government has also had discussion with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company of Nigeria (BEDC) to ensure steady power supply in the market.”
In addition to initiating practicable ideas for the repositioning of roads and markets, and the sanitisation of the environment generally, Barr. Ogie clarified that the government has also not been reluctant in spending huge sums to fix public infrastructure. He has a message for destructive hands that are vandalising public infrastructure – the state government would not be indifferent to such wilful acts of vandalism. He urged those involved to desist from their ruinous actions.
Similarly, the cleansing of the major areas of the state, as he submitted, was not a one-off, one-area-limited exercise: “The exercise is a continuous one. We started from Ring Road and we will spread it to other areas as we progress in the task of keeping the city clean. The biggest problem we had was the fear of starting, but this government is bold, courageous and has the will power to start and we have started. This exercise is in line with our administration’s objectives to ensure security for the people of the state. We are ready to deal with the cabal that promotes this illegality. We have started the clean-up exercise and will continue unstopped. The exercise will continue all-round the state as this phase is the starting point to send signal to other areas. The traffic around Ring Road is unacceptable to this government. The menace has been on for over 10 years, but this government is determined to fix it.”
An important aspect of the campaigns of the Obaseki Administration towards a cleaner Edo State is the enthroned principle of collaboration and extensive consultation. The democratic ethos of citizens’ participation in the decision-making process championed by the administration finds expression in the Edo Clean-Up Project.
Before the state government embarked on the Kings Square exercise, it had first called several meetings with traders, landlords, shop owners, market leaders, and stakeholders to deliberate on the modalities to be employed in clearing traders from walkways and the streets around the King’s Square to ease traffic around the area.
Similarly, prior to the action, the state government also put up a few weeks of publicity across major markets and road intersections, and in the news media, asking the erring persons to quit their nuisance. Arrests and fines are parts of the measures now in place to keep offenders out of the roads.
Change, it is argued, represents one of the most inconveniencing realities human beings strongly detest. In spite of the unpleasantness of monotony, there are those who would not give it up for anything. Take for example those trading at Ring Road. Many of them cared less about the danger their being in the place posed to both them and motorists. The heart of the road was their trading sphere. As it was well-known, they occupied two parts of a four-lane road.
But the cheery news is that in Benin, especially in the now decongested and sanitised King’s Spare areas, residents see the sense in embracing the logic of transformation. While the changes upset the apple carts of the dirt and anarchy they have hitherto embraced, they are opening up and embracing a new order of peace, sanity, law, and organisation.
A trader who identified herself as Ms Gloria commended the Governor Obaseki for the good job of clearing and cleaning the city. She said traders like are ready to comply with new policy of the government on trading and cleaning, but would want the governor to help them reduce the rents for stores in the market.
Likewise, Herry Okere praised the courage and determination of the government to keep the state clean. He assured the governor of the support of youths for his people-based policies and programmes. Like Ms Gloria, he called on the governor to provide alternatives for the displaced trader as trading is their livelihood.
Citizen Ezuwa Fastus on his part expressed confidence in the intension of the government. As he argued, given that the clean-up initiative is meant to improve the quality of life and socioeconomic advancement in the state, he urged the government to make sure that the exercise takes place in all the markets within the Edo. He encouraged the government not to rest on its oars.
As the Task Force on Environmental Sanitation beat the path of diligence in executing their brief, many more residents heave deep sigh of relief, grateful that many more places like King’s Square are donning new and appealing hues.
In hailing the action of government, a Benin resident who is a businessman and lawyer, Mr Johnson Omoregie, reviewed the situation thus: “Before now, the situation had been sickening, making nonsense of the huge monies spent by the last administration on the beautification of the affected areas, especially Ring Road. Notable was the nuisance posed by street traders, touts and refuses everywhere.”
In his words of praise for the state government on the measures thus far taken on the sensitisation of his area, a trader around the King’s Square, Mr Tony Obinne, also tasked the government to ensure the sustainability of the efforts, warning that if the Task Force slackened by any means, the scourge would definitely return.
Moreover, some motorists variously interviewed welcomed the measures for helping to ease traffic flow. They too pleaded with the government to open up new markets for the displaced traders and ensure that all traders in the state stay within market parameters and not spill over to the roads, creating the nuisance that had been happening in the state for over one year now.
“My fear is that these refuses dumped everywhere recklessly could block the fine and effective drainages that were built by the last administration to check the incidence of floods, especially in the affected areas. The rains are here and government measures are very timely. These street traders are a very stubborn people; government must not show weakness if it wants result,” Madam Grace Ikpokpoh, a resident and housewife, warned.
Ambrose Opkekun, a businessman and resident of Benin, shared his view on the development with our correspondent. He found government’s move to make Edo cleaner heart-warming: “Government has taken the right decision. King’s Square is fine as it now looks.” But in another breath, he took a critical position: “But it (the move) is a little bit impromptu because plans were not made as to where the people would use for their various businesses. Government should think more about this.
For whom is it keeping the city clean? So you are keeping the city clean and the traders do not have alternative? It means you have thrown them into the labour market of unavailable jobs.
Another person who expressed his mind on the issue was the National President of telecom operators and technicians, Lord Osas Osunde. “It is a welcome development,” he averred. “It is the best because Edo State has joined the list of states in the country that are taking the challenge of development seriously. It is the best.
But I hope the stakeholders who are the Ministry people know the value of what government has put in the streets. I hope they know the value of even the flowers that have been planted. They should be carried along to supervise any other persons that must be brought to maintain the streets and roads. Outsiders must not be brought into the system to destroy the aesthetic building which the Edo State Government has built.
Momoh Mercy is a student and she also commented on the efforts being championed by the state government through its Edo Clean-Up Project. Matter-of-factly, she declared: “It is very bad to trade on walkways because it distracts people that are working there.
If you are walking there, you can hardly see where to place your feet because bus drivers normally obstruct people’s movements. I think the cleaning being carried out by our governor is good. Now we will always walk unhindered on those walkways, more so that no selling goes on there again. I hope it stays that way.”
Speaking animatedly in Pidgin, Osas Eghareva, a driver, similarly bared his mind on the decongesting exercise at King’s Square.
“I dey enjoy my work very well. My work they sweet now everywhere clear; no hold-up so. I love the work; it is very very sweet now. Am comfortable now. Wey thin government they do now they very very sweet for my own side; I like am. Before if you wan drop passenger, no where to park. Even market women na road den they stay then.
But everywhere they clear now. Na good thing government they do. So, I appreciate the governor. I wan drivers like me cooperate with the government so that everything they go well. Nobody wey no like better thing. Everywhere is good; I like the government,” he declaimed.
In his contribution, Allen Azeke was appreciative of what Government is doing: “It’s very good. I must commend them. Edo State is one of the leading states. So, we should take the lead and meet up with the vast development that other states are recording. I commend the governor for that.”
He added, “Government should continue to do anything humanly possible to keep the State clean because we are suffering. Some motorists do hit some persons and those trading on the walkways are abusive. It doesn’t make sense. I sincerely think government should push them inside the market to trade there and when pedestrians see this they will learn to go inside the market.”
Barr. Tom Osigbe noted: “My reaction to this development is a big relief in the sense that driving through this place was nightmarish. I can’t believe what I see. Government has now hearkened to the cries of the people. That is how it should be. Even to walk around was risk at times. You stood the risk of being robbed by pickpockets. What I see here (King’s Square) is beautiful. This place is so clear and, in fact, I can’t believe it! In fact, I must give kudos to the government in power and I hope they will continue with the good work.”
Responding to the negative reactions from traders displaced from roadsides and walkways, and those who had made a habit of packing their vehicles illegally on roadsides, Barr. Osigbe said: “This is restructuring. You can’t eat omelette without breaking eggs. There are things that must have to go. So, I will advise those affected to take what has happen in good faith and look ahead to see that there is better environment for them to operate. I also urge government to provide a temporary measure for them because some of our relatives do trade here and some buy. They need to relocate so they can be patronised. In effect, I’m saying there should be alternative place for them so that those who earn a living from here can have something to take home.”
Evident in the responses of residents of Benin to the activities of the Edo Clean-Up Project is the need for continuity and humaneness.
People want to inhabit clean and decent environment. They have no problem with that as long as government’s exertions in that direction are not short-lived. And on its part, the Edo State Government is appealing for more support from the people, noting that the task of development and its sustenance is one that requires the involvement and cooperation of the people.
Sustainable development is possible, the government argues, where citizens are not seeking to take on the yokes it is taking off them. The new administration assures that it is not in short supply of the will to rid Edo of the yokes of disorderliness.