Sequel to the planned greening of Sagana Street, the Rivers State Government says it has started consultations with horticulturists on the best way to carry out the exercise.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Kingsley Chinda who disclosed this, Saturday during a special Sanitation exercise in the area said the greening exercise was a major step adopted by the government towards repossessing the place illegally occupied by notorious street traders.

“We are here today in conjunction with Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority to give the illegal occupants last notice and to execute the order of the Rivers State House of Assembly. We are evacuating those occupying Sangana Street pavement illegally and we intend to repossess this place and to green the necessary parts of the area,” Chinda said.

After the special sanitation exercise, he said, the ministry will carry out inspection to enable it have a thorough study of the area and then come in with a horticulturist who will advise on the areas that are greenable and to commence the greening exercise without further delay.

The Commissioner who led the exercise with chairman, Rivers State Environmental Sanitation Authority Chief Nnamdi Wokekoro said that government was tired of giving the street traders notice.

“But we deem it necessary to give sufficient notice even when we are not bound to due so as their occupation of  to place is illegal. The Rivers State House of Assembly visited here and also gave them seven days ultimatum. However, they did not adhere to the notice,” he said.

He warned that full weight of the law would be applied on any  illegal occupant who disregards the final notice as the government was not prepared to give any further notice to them.

Hon. Chinda decried the insanitary condition of the area and wondered why members of the public could buy vegetables and food items dumped on such insanitary condition which posses great danger to human health.

“If we go to the super markets to impound expired goods, I don’t see any reason why they should sell vegetable items and food stuffs to us on the floor. If you look at the drains here, it is highly in sanitary. It is not a place you can sell food stuff that people will consume,” he maintained.

He called on people of the state to give government the necessary support in its efforts towards improving on the sanitary condition of the city for their own interest.

On the media, the commissioner said “I will like to thank men of the press. You have been very supportive. I know you have been here all days with us. We continually need you to carry this information to our people so that they know what the government is doing at any point in time.”

Chris Oluoh