By George Odok
Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Mfon Bassey, has given a seven-day ultimatum to traders selling goods in illegal structures along major streets in Calabar to relocate their businesses to Watt, Marian markets, any other market or face demolition.
Bassey gave the ultimatum in Calabar during an inspection that took him from the NIPOST office in Calabar down to Watt market as government pursues the clearing of hawking activities on the pedestrian walkway to allow for free flow of vehicular and pedestrian movement around the area.
While addressing hawkers at different points, he expressed dissatisfaction with the traffic jam along Calabar Road, by Watt market due to the activities of the road side sellers who have voluntarily left the market space to occupy the road side.
He told the hawkers that the Ministry had earlier issued the ultimatum on December 27 2019, asking them to remove all illegal structures, shanties and containers off the road side.
The Commissioner also advised them to remove all illegal structures erected on the drainage system in other to allow for free flow of water during the rainy season to avoid flooding, adding that the ministry had also served the owners of the illegal structures on Hewett Street, Abatement Nuisance Notices to vacate the area. Defaulters of the notice given will face stiffer sanctions and demolition of their structures, he emphasised
He also inspected trading activities by Mobil filling station, urging the hawkers to relocate from the highway. Drivers who have formed an illegal park on the walkway and verge opposite the stadium were asked to relocate from the spot.
