Street traders at Obikabia and Opobo junctions and Ogbor Hill in Aba, have been given a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the streets and move into approved markets in the city.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tony Nwamuo, gave the ultimatum when he led a taskforce team comprising the Ministry of Environment, APUMA and TIMAAS to these locations.
Nwamuo also called on the management of Crunchies, an eatery in Aba, and the owner of a fish pond within the area to work out proper ways of channelling their waste water to stop the nuisance of such to members of the public as well as desilt their surrounding drainage systems.
The Commissioner disclosed that the visit was in compliance with the orders of the State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to restore sanity within that axis where the illicit activities of traders and Keke operators are causing much damage to the newly constructed roads.
He maintained that the State Government will not tolerate such destructive and unpatriotic acts but expects everyone to join hands with the government in its well acknowledged efforts to improve facilities and aesthetics of the State.
Contributing, the General Manager of Abia State Public Utilities Maintenance Agency (APUMA), Mr Abraham Akpulonu, and his Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMASS) counterpart, Commander Bright Ikeokwu, revealed that the Agencies are embarking on clearing the city of illegal structures along the junctions and grassing of the areas while urging the people including Keke operators to obey the vacation order within the stipulated period because work will commence in the affected areas immediately and no form of hindrance by any person or groups of persons will be condoned.
Some of the traders, who spoke to newsmen, including Mr Chinyeaka Azubuike and Mr Young Nwangwa appealed to the State government to address issue of illegal loading of passengers at the junction.
