The Coordinator, Rivers State Task force on Illegal Street Trading, Motor Park and Mechanics, Bright Amaewhule, has expressed dismay over the disobedience of the laws on illegal operations in the state by many residents.
Amaewhule expressed his displeasure during a current affairs radio programme “talk of the town” monitored by our correspondent.
He said that many people had shown they would not obey the law.
He, however, assured that the taskforce would not be deterred to return Port Harcourt to its garden city status despite what he described as blackmail against the activities of the task force.
According to him, “seven months into the existence of the task force, people are still operating illegal parks, carrying out illegal markets, street trading and mechanics. Because we are determined to return Port Harcourt to its original garden city status, people are giving us bad name and problems, just for the fact that they do not want to obey the laws”.
He admitted that there were some criminal elements in the system, saying those of them that were found wanting had been dismissed.
He insisted that the task force would continue to sanction erring members who work against the interest of the public.
He said, “some persons have been commending our efforts, but cautioned on the activities of the criminal elements in our midst. But as co-ordinator, I will not be everywhere, the information I get from the public is what guide our operations sometimes, we have sacked those confirmed to have been extorting money from the public, we have sacked those that are found to be too had on people, we will caution them, sometimes suspend them for about one month as a warning”.