FRSC warns Ondo traders against highway trading over crash risks

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Federal Road Safety Corps has warned traders in Ondo State against conducting business along highways and pedestrian walkways, citing the risks such activities pose to lives and traffic flow.

The Ondo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Dr. Samuel Ibitoye, gave the warning in an interview in Akure, urging roadside traders to relocate their businesses to approved market stalls.

Ibitoye said highways and pedestrian walkways were not designed for commercial activities, stressing that walkways were specifically provided to enable pedestrians to move safely without interference from vehicles.

He explained that displaying goods on roads and walkways exposes traders to avoidable risks, particularly during crashes, while also creating challenges for motorists and traffic managers.

According to him, some casualties recorded during road crashes involve roadside traders who are caught unawares when vehicles lose control around busy market areas.

“Traders should leave the roads and move into the designated stalls. Walkways are meant for pedestrians, not for displaying goods,” Ibitoye said, adding that roadside trading puts lives at risk and creates unnecessary conflicts with motorists.

He particularly appealed to traders around Oja-Oba and Shasha markets to stop displaying their wares on the roads and instead conduct their businesses within approved market spaces.

Ibitoye urged the traders to prioritise their safety over financial gains, saying it was better to make modest profits in a secure environment than risk their lives by trading along highways.