Ethiope East LGA Orders Owners Of Caravans In Abraka Main Market To Relocate

–Calls On Okada Riders To Register With Motor Licensing Office

-Urges Restaurants, Food Vendors, Drinking Spots To Observe Sanitation Laws

-Directs Private Waste Management Agents To Obtain Permit From The Council Authority

-Tasks Landlords To Provide Toilet Facilities In Their Compounds

By Daniel Dafe

Ehiope East Local Government Area has directed all owners of caravan and structures in Abraka main market and environs to relocate them with immediate effect, saying that this move was to enable the council carry out some developmental projects in the area.

In a press statement made available to Oasis Magazine (OM), the council authorities also called on all motorcycle riders popularly known as Okada riders to register their motorcycles with the Motor Licensing Office and the Local Government Council to obtain a security number and an identification vest (Apron) which they are obliged to put on.

Continuing, the council directed all restaurants, food vendors and drinking spots to observe sanitation laws, as the special task force constituted by the council will visit in a week to see that these directives are adhered to.

Furthermore, they urged all private waste management agents in the local government area to collect permit from the council before carrying out collection of refuse in the area, as they also tasked all landlords to provide toilet facilities in their respective compounds with immediate effect.

Speaking to OM in a phone conversation, the Chief Press Secretary to the council Chairman, Mr. Alfred Obarakpor, said that there were plans to develop the market, hence the directive to owners of caravans to remove them from the market.

He said: “We are working with the bye laws. We want to build good structures in the market. Abraka is a university town and the local government has some roles to play in achieving this. We did not just even say Abraka only, but also the environs.”

On the issue of the directive to the motorcycle riders to register their motorcycles with the Motor Licensing Office and the Local Government Council, he said that this was prompted by developments in recent times, adding that in the last three weeks about six persons were kidnapped with the aid of motorcycles.

He added: “If Okada riders in Ethiope East were registered and had their vests on, we would have been able to identify if they are one of those registered. We are trying to curb the rate of kidnapping in the area.

“Remember, okada has been banned in our area, but our council chairman allowed them to continue their operations because there is no work in the area.”

On the issue of restaurants he said: “How can they be operating restaurants and drinking spots without a toilet?

Speaking further, the CPS said: “We have private waste collectors in the area and many of them are not even known. Asking them to go and register is also for us to know those in this business and to enable us generate revenue from them.

“Look at our landlords now, many do not provide toilet facilities in their area. We are in the rainy season and flooding could occur and this could lead to cholera outbreak.”

According to him, this move by the council area is geared towards restructuring the local government in accordance with best practices in the areas of security, health and generation of revenue, stressing that this directives are not to witch-hunt anyone or about the just concluded elections.

He called on the residents to be law abiding and take security as a key factor that attracts development and also be involved in practices that boosts the health of residents in the council area, adding that Ethiope Easterners must see health as wealth.