Bayelsa: Traders Beg Diri To Shelve Illegal Demolitions Of Tombia Junction Market
By Okioma Amos
LAGOS MAY 7TH (NEWSRANGERS)-The people of Etegue and Okutukutu in Yenagoa Local Government area of Bayelsa state has urged Governor DOUYE Diri to Shelve its proposed plan to demolish illegal structures.
Empire Otuzi the Representative of the Etegue and Okutukutu of the Tombia Junction an emerging commercial nerve centre told journalists that they were witnesses to the trauma and pains the traders of Swali market traders passed through when they resisted and disobeyed government orders on removal of illegal structures which prompted the state governor to demolish all illegal structures except those within the main market hence the sensitization of traders to avoid dire consequences.
According to him they have not only heeded government directives but has
informed traders to stop any forms of trading on illegal areas but has
ensured that no business is transanted on top of the bridge and Tricycle
Ridders were allocated a park to allow free flow of traffics and extortion by
the police and area boys.
“It is a collaboration between the two communities and the Bayelsa state
Environmental Sanitation Authority permanent Secretary Christopher
EWHRUDJAKPO.”
He said to ensure strict compliance the agency has deployed its staff who are to run three shifts to maintain a clean environment and rid it off of traffic congestion by deploying its staff to run three shifts to maintain a clean and peaceful environment for traders and buyers .
“To sustain the cleanliness four mobile courts have been set up by state government to arrest and persecute defaulters .We don’t want what happened to Swali market traders to happen at Tombia Junction market, hence after sensitising they decided to comply.”
He said the Tricycle Ridders have also agreed to move to a designated park
where they can load and off load without causing any obstruction .
Empire Otuzi reiterated the strategic and economic importance of the ever busy
Tombia Junction market as the gate way to the state Niger Delta Television,
Niger Delta University, Axikel Refinery, Bayelsa state Airport, Bayelsa state
school of Nursing and Midwifery amongst others , adding that the road will
always play a pivotal role in the socio – economic development of the state ,
hence they call on government to fast track the construction of a fly over
bridge to improve the junction,s aesthetic beauty and tourist attraction
.” The proposed flyover will go a along way to solve students and
lecturers and those who will using the airport to catch their flights without
delays.” Students and Lecturers need punctuality to lectures and
examinations ” he said .
Also speaking , the Branch chairman of the Tricycle Ridders Union , Tombia
Juction zone, Comrade Ebilayefa Matthias applauded the ingenuity of the
permanent Secretary , Bayelsa state Environmental Sanitation Authority,
Christopher Ewhrudjakpo the allocation a separate park for us to load and off
load and by this singular act our members have been freed from incessant
harassment by cultist and policemen’ s daily extortion one you park to drop a
passengers on the road.
” My advise to my members is that they should reciprocate government, s
gesture, just as we request for additional park due to the strategic nature
“he said.
He also supported the construction of a fly over for the Tombia Junction
market.
When contacted , the permanent Secretary of the Bayelsa state Environmental Sanitation Authority, Christopher Ewhrudjakpo said the importance of a clean environment for a healthy living cannot be over emphasised and that the state government was determined for sanity at the Tombia market junction because of the hazards the traders face by trading on top of the bridge and road sides cum other nefarious activities within the vicinity and government efforts was also to sensitive them against what happened at Swali market.” Government will not relent until there is total compliance ” he explained.
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