C’River govt bans street trading at 8-miles area

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Cross River Governor Bassey Otu

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The Cross River Government has banned street trading around the Eight-Miles area of Calabar metropolis and urged traders illegally occupying pedestrian walkways to vacate.

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The Environment Commissioner, Mr Bassey Mensah, who made the statement during an inspection tour of the area on Friday, urged the traders to relocate their businesses to designated markets.

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The commissioner embarked on the tour accompanied by the Chairman, Calabar Municipality, Mr James Anam, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Toll Collection, Mr Bassey Edet.

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Mensah said that it was wrong to allocate public roads and walkways to traders with the aim of collecting illegal levies.

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He told the traders that it was safer and more economically viable to operate within the designated market.

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“We cannot continue to watch people allocate public roads to traders and collecting illegal levies,” he said.

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The commissioner ordered the immediate removal of tables, kiosks, wheelbarrows, umbrellas, and other structures and items being used by the traders.

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“This practice clearly reduces our status as the cleanest state in the country, it is also blocking pedestrian walkways,” he said.

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Mensah said that the measure was necessary to restore safe and unhindered movement for residents and visitors.

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He also expressed concern over the indiscriminate disposal of non-biodegradable material and other domestic waste into water channels.

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“This practice blocks drainage channels; obstructs the free flow of water; and contributes to flooding,” he said.

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The commissioner urged traders and residents to support the government’s environmental sanitation efforts by clearing the drains and participating in community clean-up exercises.

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He urged pedestrians to use designated walkways rather than traffic lanes, saying, “compliance will reduce the risk of accidents, it will promote safer movement”.

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Mensah warned that defaulters would be forcibly removed by city council authorities and enforcement personnel.

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“There has to be sanity and orderliness in the state, especially in the capital city,” he said.

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(NAN)

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