Description

The Akwa Ibom State government and the ubiquitous hawkers in Uyo, the state capital are set to clash over the directive by the former that illegal traders should vaccinate all streets within one month.

The state government appears to be unable to check the activities of street traders as they have taken over all the available spaces within Uyo metropolis including the popular Ibom Plaza which was created as a relaxation spot.

Enobong Uwah, secretary to the state government, in a statement made available to BusinessDay in Uyo, said, the “activities of the illegal roadside traders who carry out commercial activities along major roads, streets, junctions, pedestrian walkways and access road leading to markets around the Uyo metropolis are responsible for creation of traffic bottlenecks and impediment to free flow of traffic.’’

A former chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), who until his appointment as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) was responsible for the development of the capital city including regulating the activities of street vendors, stated that their activities were not acceptable to the state government, adding that it has been left with no option that to protect the larger majority of road users who are daily slowed down by activities of the illegal street traders.