Street Trading Worries PH Motorists, Residents

Disturbed by the free flow of vehicular and human traffick around the popular Sangana market in mile one Diobu, Port Harcourt, motorists and other users of the road there has expressed dismay at the display of wares on the road.

Investigations by our Correspondent yesterday indicated that the market which operates everyday impedes movement of people and vehicles.

The market which is situated around the Rivers State government Primary School, Sangana has also posed a challenge to learning in the school.

A resident of the Street, Mr. Chiji Wilfred who spoke to our correspondent said, “although the market was serving those who live around the area in providing their vegetables and other needs”, lamented the hassles associated with driving out in the morning.

The market according to The Tide’s findings operates in the morning hours of each day and market women as far as Oyigbo and beyond patronize it.

On why the market remains conjected far into the evening hours, a woman who sells grapes oranges and water melon among others, Mrs Beatrice Chinwe said people do not just come to buy and go.

She said majority of the women buy in bulk and then still remain behind to retail to members of the public.

“As we buy from suppliers who come early, we retail to people who come later”, she said.

Another resident who claimed to have lived for more than 50 years in the street and asked not to be named said residents of the area were now used to activities in the market.

He said he cannot remember the year the market began even as he said it has served his family’s needs since he lived in the street, “when it was known as Ikot Ekepene Street”, he added.

As at the time of going to press, efforts to speak with the Head Mistress of the primary school was not successful.

However a primary 5 teacher who asked not to be named said when the school was not fenced, authorities found it difficult in dealing with truancy among pupils.

According to him, pupils at that time took advantage to always want to go out to buy one thing or the other.

He further explained that the situation has since been brought under control with the fencing of the school premises.

While describing the relationship of the school with the market, he said most of the teachers patronize the market after school hours even as he said the situation was “symbiotic”.