By CHINYERE Nnaemeka
The Imo State House of Assembly members, have through the Government of the State called on Imo State Amalgamated Market Traders Association, ISAMATA, and Environmental Transformation Company (ENTRACO) to work towards decongesting eight roads, and streets in Owerri Municipal.
This they said is to avert road accidents, health hazards, and criminalities on those places by ensuring free flow of vehicular movement.
The roads and streets are School Road, Rotobi Street, Chikwere Street, Ekeonunwa Street, Relief Market Road, New Market Road, Nwaorie Lane Industrial Market Road, and some parts of Douglas Road which is they said have been blocked by street traders.
The House made the resolve when the motion was moved on Wednesday, by the Owerri Municipal legislator and Deputy Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Clinton Amadi, and seconded by Ngor Okpala lawmaker, Rt. Hon. Obinna Egu.
Presenting the motion, the mover of the motion averred, “It is in the interest of the State Government, motorists and the safety of residents of Owerri Municipal and Imo citizens that the roads or streets; School road, Rotibi Street, Chikwere Street, Ekeonunwa Street, relief market road, new market road, Nwaorie Lane Industrial market road and some part of Douglas Road are decongested and made environmentally friendly.
“Some of this roads have been totally blocked by street traders who abandoned the open space in the market and opt for quick sales to be on the road thereby obstructing the road, causing negative sanitary conditions and creating risk of possible motor accident in any event of break failure by a vehicle. A friend of mine told me of how he nearly knocked down a small boy in one of the streets due to the congestion.
“Some people benefitting from the toll and stallages they are collecting on daily/monthly basis from these street traders who occupy the roads and streets have made it impossible for motorist to ply those road and causing nuisance on those streets in Owerri Municipal
“It is quiet a disturbing issue as the Imo State Government is desirous of seeing that our roads are motorable, in good sanitary condition and risk-free for the citizens to enjoy, ‘Amadi stated’.
Supporting the motion, the Ohaji Egbema lawmaker, Hon. Dr. Uzoma Francis Osuoha -who stated that he is elated the motion was brought up, recalled that some weeks back, a motion was moved as regards to holding clean-ups in the markets, but according to him, it has not been taken seriously.
He urged for urgent actions to be taken in tackling the issues so there will be sanity on the roads and streets.
The Mbaitoli legislator, Hon. Innocent Ikpamezie said, ” When I was OCDA General Manager all the places mentioned in the motion I tried everything to open them up, and at that period what I found out then was that most of the big wigs in Owerri were the ones encouraging such as they have people allocated to the markets to collect tolls from the hawkers for them.
“If we take this motion seriously and tackle the challenge, it will bring a lot of positive changes to our state, for the menace is already taking over the state.”
Adding his voice, the Ideato South lawmaker, Hon. Duru Iheonukara Johnson who stated that the issue is not only prevalent in Owerri municipality, but his area too, noted that traders are in the habit of displaying their goods by the wayside which is very dangerous.
He continued that the people should be oriented and sensitized on how their life is more important than what they are selling.
The Majority Leader of the House, Rt. Hon Kanayo Onyemaechi averring that the motion is very key, and germane, suggested for the Waste Management Agency, ISAMATA, ENTRACO team to be invited to explain why they are not doing their job properly.
He also reflected on the need to find out those who encourage such by collecting tolls and engage them to a discussion.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amara Iwuanyanwu who presided over the House as the Speaker, commended the mover of the motion and advised the House Committee Chairmen in charge of such complaint to work hand in hand with the mover of the motion and the state government in handling the issue.
He also advised them to have an interface with the necessary agencies at the Committee level in other to properly look into the issue.
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