Newspaper vendors lament over demolition of stand by environment taskforce

Newspaper vendors in Asaba have cried out over  the destruction of their stands  by the Delta State Environment Task Force.


The vendors lamented that the tables for displaying the newspapers in strategic parts of the capital city were  destroyed.


The state government had set a motion in place for clean environment in the state,  with an inter agency taskforce to enforce environmental laws.


Members of the taskforce include Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu; Commissioner for Environment, Chris Onogba; Director General of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Mrs. Joan Mrakpor; Chairman of the state Waste Management Board, Emma Chinye; and Director General of state Bureau of Orientation, Eugene Uzum.


It would be recalled that the environment  taskforce said adequate sensitisation had be done including strategic meeting with stakeholders and public enlightenment campaigns.


The taskforce explained that a 21-day ultimatum was issued to landlords, operators of business premises to keep their surroundings clean and remove all objects or shanties considered to be offensive to the environment.


According to Mrs. Mrakpor, at the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum, a demand notice of seven days was issued to all concerned stakeholders saying  that it was at the expiration of the seven-day demand notice that the clean up started.


A vendor whose table  was destroyed said there was no specification on the platform that they are expected to provide to remain in business.


 “With what is going on in Asaba now where they destroying our tables, I don’t think we will continue to sell the papers because there is no place for us to shade them.”


She said that the newspaper distributors have already written formal letter of complaints to the relevant authorities. 
The vendor  appealed to the state government to provide the specification on the kind of platform needed for the business, and give them time to provide it.

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