RSHA Passes Street Trading, Illegal Motor Parks Prohibition Bill

After heated debate, yesterday, the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the Rivers State Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks’ Prohibition Bill 2019.
The bill was given a third reading on the floor as the Speaker, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani directed the Clerk to forward the bill for the governor’s assent.
The speaker maintained that the bill covers all urban centres in the state with the intent to check street trading and restore sanity to the city centres.
Part of the amendment made on the 14 recommendations in the report submitted by the House Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Hon. Sam Ogeh, was to give exemptions to vulcanizers whose operations were vital for vehicular and traffic movements.
On the regulations of the bill as regards implementation, the speaker averred that the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had powers of delegated legislation.
For the enforcement of the law, Ibani opined that, “there is need for inter-agency collaboration as to the parent ministry.”
The issue of enforcement had drawn diverse views from the legislators who were sharply divided on whether it should be Transport Ministry or Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning to be conferred with the power.
On another grey area of the law regarding nomenclature of the taskforce, the speaker said though the task force gives a military colouration, overtime, the name has expanded in usage even in democratic setting.
Some members held that it should be called “Enforcement Committee.”
Earlier, Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Martin Amaewhule averred that the bill was planned by the Executive arm to address the current chaos arising from swelling street trading, road side mechanics and motor parks.
He assured the people that it was not targeted at any group or section, but for the general good.
Amaewhule thanked his colleagues for giving the bill the attention it required.
It would be recalled that the bill was first read a week ago with a public hearing held, last Friday, to allow stakeholders made input to the new law.