Gov Diri orders removal of illegal market structures
* Bans street trading, stop illegal dredging activities
By Amos Odeh
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has ordered the removal of illegal structures and traders around all markets in Yenagoa, the state capital.
Governor Diri gave the order on Wednesday inside the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, said the pronouncement was necessitated by the resurgence of clashes between rival cult groups at the Swali market area.
Governor Diri recalled that at the inception of his administration, illegal traders and structures were evacuated from the Swali market to bring sanity to the area but expressed regrets that it had been reoccupied by miscreants and traders.
He said: “There has been a running battle between cult groups around the Swali market. We had earlier dislodged the same cultists at the beginning of this administration and ensured that the market was not obstructed. We also removed the illegal structures and traders.
“However, yesterday (Tuesday), we had clashes between cult groups around Swali market area and traders that had taken over the roads. I hereby direct the Special Advisers on Security Matters and their team to swing into action at the Swali market again.
“From today, no street trading should be found in and around Swali market and all other markets within the state capital.”
The Bayelsa helmsman also directed the Security Advisers to synergise with security agencies to carry out a 24-hour patrol around the Swali market area and other markets to ensure protection of lives and property.
He stated that mobile courts would also be reinstated at the Swali market to prosecute defaulters of the order.
In related development, the Bayelsa State Government has Stopped all Illegal Dredging Activities within Yenagoa, the state capital and its environs
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Iselema Gbaranbiri gave the directive when he went for an on-the- spot assessment of one of the dredging sites in the Tailor Creek area of Gbarain clan in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State.
Hon. Gbaranbiri, in a press statement signed by kwokwo Tariebi , said the commissioner stated this while condemning the ugly act, expressed dissatisfaction over the current situation of the land as a result of the dredging activities.
He further stated that the government is concerned about the plight of the Gbarain people and as such, it would no longer condone such chaotic acts from the companies involved.
The Environment Commissioner said, “the sate Government is battling with flood and erosion, farmlands are collapsing, and these dredging activities are only compounding the problems of the State”.
While also disclosing to the operators on site, that there had been series of complains and petitions to him ,regarding their activities, he went further to direct that a Re-stop dredging Order which had been earlier issued be issued to the companies involved.
Responding ,Mr.Dino Steven, one of the individual dredgers, acknowledged the illegality of the activities and promised to follow the requisite procedure from the State.
He however, thanked the commissioner and his team for the fast caution, while also disclosing that ,environmental issues would be a thing of the past, if the commissioner continued in this manner.
Others who went on the inspection,were;the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment,Mr.Waripamo Martin, Director flood and Erosion in the Ministry;Mr.Daniel Tenemeni amongst others.
In another development, Hon.lselema Gbaranbiri ,while speaking to Newsmen in his office on Tuesday, May 4,2021, lamented on the devastating effect of dredging activities to the land and the Environment , adding that communities where these activities take place were suffering.
He therefore, reiterated that all illegal dredging activities especially those to the shorelines in the State be stopped forthwith, adding that these activities are only compounding the problems of flooding and Erosion in the State and that, anyone caught in the act would be made to face the consequences.
Hon. Gbaranbiri also assured Bayelsans that the Prosperity Government is working to make sure it addresses the various environmental problems ranging from flooding, Erosion and others and that the Ministry of Environment was alive to its duties.
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