…as Environment Commissioner expresses anger with rebellious market traders
BY DANIEL EKPENYONG
The Akwa Ibom State government has ordered immediate demolition of all illegal structures around Akpan Andem market in Uyo.
The Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Dr. Iniobong Essien gave the order on Saturday while monitoring the level of compliance with the monthly sanitation exercise which took him and his team of ministry officials, environment-based non-governmental organizations and the press round the various markets within the State capital.
At the Akpan Andem market, the Commissioner, flanked by the Special Assistant to the Governor on market matters, Mr. Idorenyin Raphael and the chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr. Patrick Albert, expressed disappointment at the non – challant attitude of the traders to the sanitation exercise, the first in the New Year.
Dr. Essien who was not happy with the unsanitary condition of the market especially the blocked drainage system in and around the market, ordered that all forms of street trading around the market should be discontinued and all illegal market stalls built on top of gutters and road sides be pulled down on Thursday, February 2, 2017 . He instructed the SA on market matters to ensure that the traders have been adequately warned of the impending demolition exercise before that Thursday.
When the team visited Itam market, the Commissioner was shocked to notice that the market was in full session with buying and selling taking place despite the restriction on all such activities.
Addressing the Itam market traders, the Commissioner expressed unhappiness with their rebellious attitude and warned that next time any trader found flouting the sanitation rules would be arrested and charged to the sanitation court.
Other markets visit were the Ikot Akpe market along Good Luck Jonathan Boulevard, Urua Okpokpo along Uyo – Etinan Road, as well as Urua Ikot Ambang along Uyo – Ikot Ekpene Road.
In all these markets traders were seen displaying their wares without significant compliance with the exercise.
Some of the traders at the various markets who spoke with this reporter attributed their non – compliance to forgetfulness. Others said they thought the exercise would not hold since it did not old in the last two editions (that is in November and December 2016). But they all promised to be good citizens in subsequent exercises.
Speaking with Journalists at the end of the monitoring exercise the Hon. Commissioner said apart from the attitude of the market traders at the various markets, he was impressed with the compliance level of the general public in Uyo.
“I am happy to see Uyo residents cleaning their environments. The roads are free of traffic which shows that people are complying with the sanitation exercise.
This is the first sanitation for the year 2017 and the best way to wish ourselves sickness free year is by beginning the year with the cleaning of our environments,’’ he said.
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