A Bill seeking to make street trading illegal has passed second reading on the floor of the Rivers State House of Assembly has been referred to an Adhoc committee of the house.
Also to restrained in the bill are illegal markets, motor parks and illegal mechanic workshops.
The bill would view street trading, illegal motors parks, roadside Mechanics as an offence punishable by law
In the bill “no person shall carry on business as a roadside mechanic in a prohibited area without approval by the appropriate authority”
A fine of N50,000 is the cost for contravention for first offenders while second offenders would serve 2 years in prison.
The bill also states that a person or group who operates an unauthorized market has committed an offence and is liable to pay a fine of N200,000 or 2 years in prison or both, and if they commit such offence the second time, the offender(s) would pay a fine of N300,000 or 3 years in prison or both.
The majority leader of the house, Martin Ameahule, who led the debate on the floor of the house said the bill when passed into law will not only reduce road accidents but would also return the state to its garden city status.
The bill was committed to an Adhoc committee after a debate by other lawmakers including Hon Evans Bipi, Hon Anslem Oguguo, Hon Major Jack, Hon Nathaniel Uwaji.
Chairman of the Adhoc Committee and the lawmaker representing Emoaha constituency, Sam Ogeh, said the bill when passed into law would touch on the decency and orderliness in the state adding that lawmakers would work assiduously to ensure they give the bill a speedy passage.
Ogeh further disclosed that the public hearing for the bill would hold this Friday 26th July 2019 by 10 am.
