The Abia State Government has explained that the environmental sanitisation exercise going on in Aba and which is being enforced by the Aba Urban Renewal Office, is only aimed at restoring decency and decorum to the city.

The government said street trading and street hawking cause a lot of menace both to traffic flow and environmental decency while also posing a great risk to the life of the traders. It said that is why government has provided alternative market places for these illegal street traders.

According to the State Government in a statement signed by Godwin Adindu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, “Nowhere in the world is the culture of street trading tolerated anymore and therefore Aba traders and residents must cooperate with government agents in the efforts to sanitise Aba and bring decorum to the city and its markets and desist from actions that could lead to confrontation with constituted authority.

“Government is making this appeal sequel to the incidents that have been occurring in Aba in the last couple of days where miscreants and illegal street traders have tried to resist the instructions and directives of the officials of the Aba Urban Renewal Office, leading to some misunderstanding between the illegal street traders and the government officials.

“Government wants to reemphasise that the mission of sanitising Aba and reinventing the ancient city, which is being executed through the Aba Urban Renewal Office, is one cardinal policy thrust which the current administration is pursuing with passion, dedication and every sense of duty. Therefore, the street traders must adhere to the government directive to relocate to the newly constructed GoodMorning Market, along East Street, by Ngwa Road.

“Government will not tolerate any form of deviant acts that would seem to hinder the progress of this laudable vision of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

“Government is also disabusing the minds of Abians against the propaganda peddled by some disgruntled elements that the exercise is targeted against non-indigenes. Aba is a melting pot for all ethnic nationalities in the country. Aba does not only belong to Abians, it belongs to Nigerians and the world. Governor Ikpeazu is rebuilding a new city for the world.

“Therefore, political jobbers and enemies of the state who are cashing in on this sanitation exercise to generate crisis and foment trouble are well advised to rethink their mischief. They must desist from acts and statements capable of inciting Aba residents against one another and causing the breach of the prevailing peace in the land.

“Government recognises that the mandate to rebuild Aba and other major Abia cities would certainly come with sacrifices and requires the co-operation of all Abians and this is in the overall interest of us all.

“The Government is also using this medium to state categorically that, contrary to the rumour being spread by detractors and opposition elements that there was disturbances in Aba between indigenes and non-indigenes, the city has been calm and peaceful and will continue to maintain this status. Hence, residents and visitors should go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation by any group or persons.

“The general public is also encouraged to be partners with the law enforcement agencies in their effort to live up to their statutory responsibility of maintaining law and order and protecting lives and property.”

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu driving a bulldozer to signal the start of work on a road rehabilitation project.

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