RSG Outlaws Hawking In PH …Warns Butchers

Determined to clear the city of Port Harcourt and its environ of all forms of trading, the State Ministry of Environment, has outlawed all forms of hawking in the city, by the end of February.

 The commissioner for Environment, Hon. Chinda, who gave this indication shortly after this week’s sanitation exercise in all public places, said all mobile traders within the city are to vacate the high ways by the end of February, stressing, the conduct is unlawful, dangerous and unhealthy and should not be part of our society.

 The commissioner also said stiff measures awaited anyone who liters, saying that anyone caught litering would be arrested by the newly formed Rivgreen Marshalls who are now patrolling the streets of the city on the look out for defaulters.

 On the refuse evacuation challenges facing traders and transporters after the weekly clean-up exercise, Chinda appealed for understanding, saying it is because we are transiting to a new order, but by February the problem would be resolved and the transition would be visible.

He said that in the interim interventions are ongoing to evacuate the refuse, reiterating that new contractors are being engaged to carry out mechanical refuse disposal and desilting jobs.

The commissioner also noted the insanitary condition of Rumuodamanya abattoir, and said that government had warned the butchers to desist from using tyres to roast meat a process that is not healthy. “We can not sacrifice the lives of our people and our own, especially where they have refused governments assistance”,  he added.

Chief Environmental Health Officer, Stowe Opuene, who was in the monitoring team, while speaking to the butchers advised them to improve on the sanitary condition of the abattoir by flooring the place and always use aprons.

 Some of the places visited were the Emenike Abattoir, Eloabuchi and Mile 3 Timber Markets, Mile 3 Mechanic Village and Mile I Market.