Roadside trading: C’River Gov’t set to enforce eviction notice at Marian market

The Cross River Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Calabar Municipal Local government area are set to enforce the eviction notice issued to traders at the Marian market for obstructing traffic.

This is coming after the expiration of the one year notice given to the traders by the state government to vacate from the roadside and make use of the shops inside the market.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mfon Bassey, who visited the market alongside the Chairman of Calabar Municipality Mr Effefiong Nta-Eka, reminded the traders that their eviction notice had expired.

Mfon, while addressing a section of the traders, frowned at their continues use of the walkway to sell their goods.

According to him, some of the traders had also blocked the drains for the free flow of rainy water, hence causing flooding whenever it rains.

He told them that the government was ready to demolish all the illegal structures erected along the driveway in order to return sanity into the market.

“In January 2020, we issued an eviction notice to the traders who have turned the driveway into their shops to vacate from the roadside and return into the shops inside the market.

“It is quite unfair that one year after, some of them were still operating under the illegal structures we had asked them to vacate from.

“We have since created an alternative for them, yet there chose to stay by the roadside and sell. As you can see, there is always a gridlock on this road because vehicles can no longer navigate freely.

“Sadly also, they have been hips of refuse around the markets for months now because the compactors can no longer drive in to evacuate the waste because of the illegal structures that have been erected.

“What if there is an outbreak of epidemic because of these hips of refuse? We are here to tell them that any of these days, the government shall move in and enforce the eviction order and return sanity to the market,” he said.

The Commissioner maintained if trading was to continue at Marian market, it must be done in consonance with best practice, and in an environment devoid of health hazards.

“With the expulsion of roadside trading and illegal occupants and sanity returning to the market, the drainage systems will be opened up for clearing, to quell flooding that has hitherto been an issue during the rainy season,” Hon. Bassey assured.