The Abia State Government said it will commence the enforcement of the ban on street trading in the state from January 2024.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, made the disclosure in Umuahia while briefing newsmen.
Kanu, who regretted that street trading in the state has become a menace and was adversely impacting on the newly constructed roads, vowed that the government will go all out to enforce the ban, especially in Aba, from next year.
He said it was unfortunate that despite spirited efforts by the government to arrest the menace, it was continuing unabated, cautioning that the government will not fold its arms and watch the anomaly continue.
“With all the efforts the government has made, this menace (street trading) keeps rearing its ugly head, particularly in Aba. Incidentally, most of the new roads that the government has constructed, people use them to trade, and this will not augur well for the new roads.
“There has been a lot of interface between government officials and the market authorities and, in other instances, the culprits, as it were; everything has been done, but to no avail. Despite the fact that this government puts human face in its activities, by the new year, the government will go all out to enforce the law.”
Kanu used the occasion to inform of the government’s determination to ensure that one carriageway of the Ossah-Okpara Square road would be completed and put to use this Yuletide. He made known the Otti administration’s commitment to making good its promise of defraying all arrears of pensions owed pensioners by the previous administration.
“As a responsive and responsible government, this administration will keep to its promise. The governor, Dr. Alex Otti, will keep to his promise of paying off all the outstanding pension arrears. In the coming days, we will be able to avail you information in that regard,” he said. (Sun)