The Rivers Government has ordered traders along Bishop Okoye Street in Mile III, Port Harcourt to move to the approved site for them at Elelenwo International Market or face unpleasant consequences.

Commissioner for Environment, Barrister Kingsley Chindah gave the order recently at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa.

Chindah, who explained that the government had already pleaded with the traders to stop trading on the road and move to their official site, noted that they (traders) were being deceived by a group of people who still collect money from them and issue them with state government permits.

“Since I and the mayor of PHALGA, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini, visited the place and warned them against their illegal trade, no government permit has been approved for any one”.

“Any one found trading on Bishop Okoye Street will be sanctioned and prosecuted”, the commission said.

Chindah noted that a sanitation court has been constituted for the road at the Sanitation Authority, saying that already seven traders have been prosecuted, out of which three have been found guilty and sentenced to four days imprisonments.

The commissioner also used the opportunity to state that road sweepers along Rumuodanya will soon resume work.

He also warned refuse contractors to monitor their trucks and avoid littering the streets with wastes, while also urging people to be sanitary conscious, noting that offences such as dropping of “pure water” sachets on the on the streets is punishable.

Sogbeba Dokubo