No hiding place for Abuja hawkers

No fewer than 1,000 hawkers, street traders and other alleged unlawful operators were ejected on the first day of the exercise.
The exercise, which was coordinated by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) would cover other flashpoints in the city metropolis such as Area One axis in Garki.
Saturday’s exercise kicked off at about 4.00a.m. and had as its highpoint on the sealing off of TOTAL Service Station along Herbert Macaulay Way, near Berger Junction, over alleged environmental infractions.
The station was sealed off for harbouring unauthorized business activities within its premises such as production and sale of sachet water, hawking of used (tokunbo) motor tyres, battery charging and others.
Besides that, the entire service station premises were so filthy that the AEPB team had to compel the station’s attendants to promptly clean up the place under its watch.
As early as 4.00a.m., officers of the AEPB enforcement squad, SURE-P personnel, Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps had taken positions at strategic places within the vicinity and along the roads leading to Wuse Market, preparatory to the commencement of the clean up exercise.
The sanitization exercise resulted in partial closure of all the entry roads to the market.
Interestingly, the exercise did not result to the closure of the market as lawful traders and buyers were allowed free access to the market for normal business activities.
Addressing newsmen during the exercise, Director of AEPB, Isa Shuaibu said that through the exercise over 1,000 hawkers, street traders and illegal elements operating in Wuse market, Berger junction, Zone Two junction and other adjoining streets to the market were dislodged.
He assured that the operation would be sustained and warned hawkers, street traders and other illegal operators to steer off the market and its precincts or face arrest and prosecution.
He warned banks and other businesses bordering the market against condoning hawkers in front or around their offices, stressing that AEPB would be left with no option than to seal off the office of any company found guilty of such illegal acts.
Shuaibu said that the sealing off of the TOTAL Service station should serve as a deterrent for other big companies condoning hawkers and street traders.
Scores of hawkers were arrested and their wares confiscated.