Creek Road: Traders Seek Stalls To Stem Street Market

With the Rivers State Task force on Street Trading and Illegal Motor Parks intensifying efforts to rid the metropolis of street trading, some traders at Creek Road Market have bemoaned lack of stalls.
They told The Tide Metro that lack of stalls was responsible for street or road side trading.
When The Tide Metro visited the market, the market which used to spill unto the road had moved to the walkways and pedestrian path.
As at last week, vehicles were seen driving with little hiccups, but refuse dumps still dotted parts of the busy road that leads to Harold Wilson Drive.
The constant patrol of the taskforce men may have had huge control as traders scamper with their goods as the men approach.
The chaos that usually dominated the road with traders displaying their wares on the road median has disappeared.
The new sanity seems not to go well with Prince Nwajesus, who displays both men and women underwears in his wheelbarrow.
He told The Tide Metro that, “they should allow us do our business because we are no longer blocking the road.”
Nwajesus averred that due to lack of stalls, many of them have resorted to selling on the road. They should build more stalls for us.
The trader said before the road was constructed, the Creek Road Market was in existence. But with the road demarcated, the traders were left with no option than to hawk around.
While, commending the taskforce for restoring sanity on the road, another trader, Stanley Iwu who sells foodstuffs and salad stuffs along Okrika Street, also known as Aba line said many of them sell on the road to make quick sales.
He said that no trader would like to sell along the road, if there were stalls.
But another trader disagreed with the claim that lack of stalls was responsible for street trading.
Miriam Obi who sells provisions in the market said it had become a habit by most traders.
She lamented that the adjoining streets like Bonny Street, up to Bendel Street had turned into markets.
She was of the view that there was compromise by both the market union and those overseeing the market.
Miriam urged government to investigate and find out those who were illegally allocating stalls and collecting levies and daily tickets from those selling on the roads.
Jennifer Blessing, who sells garri disclosed that they paid daily ticket to have a stand near the front of the market.
When pressed further, she said “some people who claim to be indigenes come to collect the tickets, and anyone who resists is thrown out”.
Aba line is the most congested as there is no space for vehicular movement.
Apart from the taskforce that controls the traders, The Tide Metro was told that indigenes of the area also levied them.
“Each trader along the space allocated on the road pays ticket of up to N300 daily to display goods”.
“During market days like Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, it is difficult to control traders said Nwajesus.

By: Kevin Nengia