THE bulldozersbrought to Olomiarea of Ibadan at the height of factional crisis among members of the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State to demolish the state head office of the proscribed union in the state, sometimes last year, has now become a headache and object of concern to the residents of Olomi community.Checks round the area by Community News crew showed that majority of people living in the area were dissatisfied with the continued stay of what some residents described as abandonment of the bulldozer meant for the demolition of NURTW House at Olomi area of Ibadan.A resident who also claimed to be a beer parlour operator in the area, Muyideen Alade, expressed anger over the continued stay of the bulldozer at Olomi road, adding that the abandonment of the demolition equipment by the state government in the area was constituting not only a major obstruction on the road, but has also become an environmental nuisance to the residents and other road users.Although, many residents of the area declined comment over the issue, the few who were bold enough to grant interview with Community News, castigated the owner of the bulldozer for abandoning it.According to Alade, 'how can the owner of the bulldozer abandon such a heavy duty equipment here' The two equipment as well as the heavy truck that brought it was damaged during an attempt to demolish the NURTW office.''But the problem now is that the bulldozer is not only blocking the narrow road, it is also causing both okada and vehicular accident, especially at night, because there is no street light on the road for illumination at night. So, we beg the state Ministry of Environment or other appropriate organs of the government to order the removal of the bulldozer and the truck that brought it without further delay,' he stated.One of the landlords in the area, Alhaji Mufutau Adesina, also told Community News that it was very unfortunate that the bulldozer could be allowed to rot away in the community.'Look at where the bulldozer is abandoned, very narrow road. Yet, nobody is saying anything to call the attention of either the authority of the local government, state Ministry of Environment or the state government to the issue. But we thank God that Community News remember the issue by coming to us to hear our view about the abandonment. We've been complaining about it for long,' he stated.The same complaint was shared by many residents as well as traders operating at Olomi area, as they condemned the action of whosoever owned the bulldozer and the truck for not removing the bulldozers from the community.However, all the house owners who granted interview with Community News over the issue, appealed to the Commissioner for Environment in Oyo State to direct his field officers to come and remove the bulldozer from the area.
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