Port Harcourt residents
have lauded the recent setting of the approved limits for traders and pedestrians along the railway lines by the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC)
Some residents who make frequent use of the railway area and spoke to The Tide yesterday said it was a welcome development.
According to Mr Justice Uche, who uses the rail track as a short cut to his residence along Sangana street, the move would check the excesses of the traders.
He explained that over time the traders behave as if it was their right to display their wares on the rail lines.
This he said prevents other users of the area from moving freely during business hours.
One other resident who welcomed the move, Mr Linus Utuk, a hawker told The Tide that the action by the railway workmen has paved the way for free movement.
He, however, called on the authorities to sustain the effort.
According to him, this was not the first time such actions by the railway authorities have embarked on such activities.
“This has been happening before, so I hope this one is for real,” he said.
However, some of the traders who spoke to The Tide said they were not moved by the development.
My brother, we have been seeing this thing for so many times, so we are not worried, according to one of the traders who sells assorted clothing materials and gave his name as Uchenna Ugo.
Taking a different approach, one of the traders who would not want his name on print accused the authorities of targeting them (traders) for their recent agitation for self determination.
When reminded that the traders cut across the strata of every Nigerian at the railway market, he replied, “quote me”.