Despite the incessant displacement of the Sangana, Mile 1 Diobu Street traders by the Rivers State government, the adamant traders have refused to adhere to the plea of the government of the day to vacate the street.
Many administrations have come and gone, which also stressed on the issue of the illegal trade conducted by the traders at Sangana Street, yet the traders refuse to change the situation as they would rather die than vacate for their trade.
Just recently, the Ministry of Urban Development went and ransacked the traders, warning them never to return to trade at the Sangana Street. This, to the traders, is a foul play as they have vowed to rather end their lives selling at the Sangana Street.
Our correspondent who investigated the situation came reported, that Mile 1 Sangana traders are saying that if the government of the day wants them to survive, it should provide a beffiting venue for them and they will never come back to sell at Sangana Street.
According to them, “We are not stubborn to government, just that we do not have another means of training our children and also fend for ourselves. This is the only thing we could do to survive in life.
“Some of us, our husbands are dead and nobody to cater for our daily needs, hence we are pushed to take our destiny in our hands”.
To this complaint, the Rivers State government seems not to have solution. The situation may be worse than the ordinary chasing away of the traders at interval if proper care is not taken by stakeholders.
The traders sell fruits of assorted kind, ranging from perishable fruits to perennial fruits, with which they, in turn litter the gutters. It is too sad to note that when the rains come, the gutters produce unbearable stench which is epidemic, not only to the traders’ lives but to residents in that street.
More dangerous is the fact that vehicles plying that street are prone to accident with the possibility of maiming and injuring innocent persons making use of that street.
The situation is worrisome as both the traders and the government of the day could not strike a balance on how to correct the impending danger.
An elderly man from Sangana Street, whom our correspondent spoke to and who gave his name as Friday Mamba, stated that only death could make the traders to quit or vacate the Street for good.
He advised the state government to find lasting solution to the unending drama between it and the traders before the situation turns uglier. ###
Allanso Jonathan Allanso
previous post
