Eze Emeka George Ihunwo, the Paramount Ruler of Woji Community in Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State on Sunday lauded Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, for setting up the State Taskforce On Street Trading, Illegal Markets and Motor Parks.
The traditional ruler noted that within a few days; the task force had brought sanity on the streets of the Rivers State capital and urged them to extend their services to Woji Community, Leadership reports.
According to him: To start with, I have called the Chairman of that task force to come to Woji as a matter of urgency. They are doing a very great job. That taskforce that the Rivers State government set up is in tandem with what we are doing here in Woji before this time concerning street trading.
“The people are causing a nuisance. Even when many of them have the opportunity to go into the market, they have refused to go, and they try to create nuisance on the roads all the time. So far, the work of that committee is quite commendable.”
The monarch frowned at the activities of fake officials of the task force, called for the arrest and prosecution of anyone caught impersonating officials of the agency.
Ihunwo said: “I think the governor at the inauguration of the committee warned them against touting or collecting money from people.
“I also have, on several occasions heard the Chairman of the committee, Chief Hon. Bright Amaewhule said they have authority to arrest. If they see such persons, they should arrest and prosecute them.”
He stated that although Woji Community had never experienced flooding before, the leadership of the community has taken steps to ensure that the city is safe following recent predictions of the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET).
The traditional ruler said: “By the grace of God, Woji has never been flooded from time immemorial, maybe, because of where God has kept us. Before this civilisation, Woji was like a Peninsula. You will come in through one road and through that same road you will go out. We were surrounded by water. The left is a river; the right is a river.
“With the effort, the government has made here. When I say government, I mean the Rivers State government, under the leadership of Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, the Executive Governor of Rivers State. That government intended well and has done so much for the people of Woji Community. You can see that another road you see here terminates in the river.
“But, we are not trying to take nature for granted. We have continued to tell our people on the need not to dump their refuse or cabbage into drainages and to ensure that drainages in their houses are always open.”
