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As RSG Begins Enforcement, NURTW Hails Wike’s Ban On Illegal Markets, Parks
As the Rivers State Government officially commences enforcement of the ban on street trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and mechanic workplaces in the state, today, stakeholders have lauded the government for taking proactive steps to rein in rule of law and order in the state.
One of the key stakeholders is the powerful National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), which described the decision to enforce the ban as a laudable step that would bring sanity and guarantee safety of travellers in the state.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, last Saturday, said that, “with effect from Monday, January 4, 2021, the state government will begin the enforcement of the ban on street trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and mechanic work places”.
It warned all those involved in such illegal activities along the streets and other public places to desist forthwith as defaulters would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
The release further directed law enforcement agencies and other relevant government agencies to arrest and prosecute defaulters.
The statement reads, “This is to inform the general public that with effect from Monday, January 4, 2021, the state government will begin the enforcement of the ban on trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and mechanic workplaces.
“All those involved in these illegal activities along our streets and other public places are advised to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the law.
“Law enforcement agencies and relevant government bodies have been directed to arrest and prosecute defaulters”, it added.
Reacting to the decision by the Rivers State Government to enforce the ban on street trading, illegal motor parks and illegal mechanic workshops in the state, the Abali Park branch Chairman of NURTW, Comrade Stephen Orlu, said that the state government’s decision was a laudable step that would bring sanity, guarantee safety of travellers and also improve on the revenue base of the state.
Orlu stated this in an interview with The Tide, last Saturday, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
He frowned at a situation, particularly in Port Harcourt, the state capital, were motor parks are scattered everywhere, with nobody checkmating the operators of the illegal parks.
“In fact, commercial transport operators, including those from other states, come here, operate and evade tax and go scotch free. They don’t pay any revenue to the state government.
“Well, we have held a meeting with the Commissioner for Transport. He told us that this Abali Park and Mile 3 Motor Park will operate as central motor parks. The Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, also emphasised in his New Year Broadcast to the state that the government would, from Monday, begin to enforce the ban on such illegal motor parks.
“If the state government do that and the board of internal revenue wants to generate revenue from motor operators, that will be very good because it will generate huge amount of money to the state.
“As at now, inside this Abali Park, all the Aba-bound commercial buses, and other buses coming from other states don’t enter here. They have turned all the bus stops to their motor parks”, Orlu lamented.
He noted that if the state government would go ahead and enforce the ban on illegal motor parks, it would complement the urban renewal efforts of the Wike-led administration, and also guarantee the safety to travellers and their goods, especially in this era of insecurity across the country.
The NURTW boss hailed Wike for the massive road infrastructure projects across the state, stressing that all parts of Port Harcourt, have become the huge construction site, with flyover bridges and roads that would transform the city to the envy of most other cities in the country.
He emphasised that the massive infrastructure projects have marked Wike out as a governor who loves his state.
By: Chris Oluoh
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.