Rivers reconstitutes taskforce on street trading, illegal parks

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Government has reconstituted its suspended taskforce to enforce the ban on street trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and automobile workplaces.

The new Coordinator of the taskforce, DSP Felix Nwadibeyi (rtd), said his team had commenced operations.

He said the task force on Monday started patrolling the streets of Port Harcourt and Obio Akpor local government areas to sensitise the public on the need to obey the government ban on street trading and illegal motor parks.

He said: “Today, we are going out to sensitise the people to make sure that they are aware of our presence and that we have commenced operation.

“For some time now, there was no task force working. We are now going out to alert the public that we have commenced operation. Anybody caught wanting will be prosecuted.”

Nwadibeyi, said no member of the former task force was part of the reconstituted team.

He assured the public that the new outfit would maintain the expected civility of a new taskforce.

He, however, warned that anyone, who wilfully flouted government ban on street trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and automobile workplaces, would be arrested and prosecuted.

Also, the officer in charge of the Rivers State taskforce, DSP Okuto Christopher, explained that the presence of security personnel attached to the taskforce was to make sure there was no breakdown of law and order.

“If there is any defaulter or offender, ours is to arrest and take them to the nearest (police) division and they, (defaulters) will be charged to court,” he said.

The state government had repeatedly warned all those involved in street trading, illegal motor parks, taxi ranks and automobile workplaces on the streets to desist or face the full wrath of the law. (Nation)