The recent order by the
Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Nyema Weli to traders at the popular Sangana Street Market to stop trading at the area seems to have fallen on deaf ears.
The Commissioner who gave the order while monitoring last week’s monthly sanitation exercise had told the traders that the ban on street trading in the State was still in force.
Represented by the Director, Environmental Sanitation, Health and Safety, Dr. Ugochukwu Nmegbu the Commissioner told the traders that any illegal trader caught selling on the street would be arrested and prosecuted.
Our correspondent who visited the Sangana area yesterday reports that trading at the prohibited area was going on with the traders displaying and hawking their articles freely.
Emeka (not real name) who sells farely used shoes and sandals who spoke to our correspondent said the government should bear, with them as they only come, and sell go.
He said since they do not put permanent stalls on the streets, government should allow them to enable them earn a living.
Reminded of the implications of disobeying the government over, he said “this is not the first time, infact we are used to such orders”.
According to Jude who hawks shirts and men’s trousers, most of them prefer doing such business instead of constituting themselves into jobless youths.
While admitting that their activities sometimes constitute nuisance to other road users, he said it could not be avoided “as Port Harcourt was growing in population every day”.
However some of those who patronize the traders told our Correspondent that the government should look for a way to relocate the traders even as they say most of them cannot afford to pay for permanent stalls.
Efforts to speak to the Hon. Commissioner for Environment on the issue was not successful, but a source which asked not be named said the government was aware of the plight of the traders.