The Rivers State Govern
ment has given a seven days ultimatum to operators of Ikoku Mechanic shed to clean up the area or face closure.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Nyema  Weli, handed down  the directive at the weekend during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, also directed the leadership of the area to report to his office last Wednesday for briefing.
The commissioner described the Ikoku mechanic shed as an eyesore, stressing that government would no longer told its hands and watch people operate in a dirty environment.
Dr Weli who was represented by the Director Environmental Health and Safety in the Ministry, Dr Ugochukwu Nmegbu also warned the traders against sabotaging government effort  at ensuring a clean environment for the state.
He also urged the traders to see the shed as a part of their households, which must be kept clean always.
Reacting to the directive, in an interview with newsmen, some traders alleged that they are being  made to pay N200 each as sanitation levy to the leadership of the shed for they regretted that, rather than used the money to hire private refuse collectors to clean up the shed the leadership is diverting the money for another purpose.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Ministry of Environment is to liaise with its urban development counterpart to check the blockage of the Rumuepirikom, Rumuolumeni Creek in the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area by property developers.
Addressing newsmen during a visit to the area, the Commissioner for Environment Dr Nyema Weli warned that the two communities may experienced flooding, if noting is done about it.
The commissioner who was represented by Dr Ugochukwu Nmegbu, Director Environmental Health and Safety also warned property developers in the area against contributing to the destruction of the communities and urged those involved to remove their properties.

Chairperson of Oke-ero Local Government Area of Kwara, Hajia Aminat Yusuf (2nd left) sympathising with some victims of rainstorm at Aiyedun town, recently.