The permanent secretary Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority, Mr Christopher Ewhrudjakpo, in this interview with JOY EMMANUEL explains reasons behind recent demolition of the illegal structures of markets in the state.
Why did the government demolish illegal structures at the Swali Ultra-modern Market at this time?
The initiative of the government to carry out this demolition exercise was not just because of this Covid 19 alone, but to ensure that the beauty of
Yenagoa metropolis is maintained and seen by everyone. They built those illegal structures that they mounted on the road side. Those structures did not actually give it a beautiful look. When you go there now unlike before, you will know that the difference speaks for itself.
After the demolition, are there measures put in place to see that it remains like that?
That is why the government has followed up by setting up mobile court. Also, the sanitation authority staff are there, staff of the Ministry of Trade and Investment are there, staff of the Ministry of Environment are there and the magistrates assigned by the chief justice of the state. So, after some time, the government is going to take a look at it and see what they can do to make it more beautiful than it is now.
Would the Swali traders still remain there after now?
Government would decide if they are going to still remain there or not after the COVID 19.
Do we still expect these mobile courts in places like Tombia and Kpnansia markets?
Yes, when they finish at Swali, I think His Excellency said it that he has seen the progress of this demolition in Swali Market. He said the action would be taken further to other markets. He specifically mentioned Kpansia Market with a follow up action. A similar action that took place at Swali would take place there but if they comply before that time, then such a serious measure would not be taken.
Is it not better to have sensitised the people instead of constituting a mobile court since the sanitation board has a department for beautification?
The beautification department has been properly restructured to become parks and gardens. It is an agency under the Ministry of Environment. So they are in charge of seeing that the state and its environment particularly the metropolis is beautified. So beyond this time now, if there is going to be anything like beautification, it is those people that are going to do it not sanitation authority. On sensitisation or leaving it at the mobile court level, before the mobile court was even set up as established by the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Kate Abiri, sensitisation has been done severally. The Ministry of Trade and Investment had already done their own sensitisation before we started. And then after we even did our own, the state COVID 19 task force also met and went to the market holding several meetings with the leadership and the rest of them. So, they were fully and properly sensitised, but they were adamant, saying it is political. They felt that after now, government would just relax and nothing would happen. That was what led to this demolition.
It was assumed that the timing was not right.
Well, when they say people are suffering, I think they are being economical with the truth because apart from asking them especially those that are not selling those essential commodities, like food stuffs, pharmaceutical and all the rest stuff, the COVID 19 team has gone and determined places where those people can go and sell. The location where they can move them to,You can even carry your wares to the front of your house. So anybody complaining of hunger is just being economical with the truth and doesn’t want to help the state
Some traders were also complaining of lack of shops. They said they were ready to move into the shops if there are any.
That also is a very bad picture they are painting about the government after the sensitisation, I went into the market myself, in fact about 600 shops. Nobody was occupying them but they are shade store though they are not lock up shops and there is an open space inside the market. Government immediately authorized the clearing of that place and sand filling and then fumigated it so that the people who have no stalls will go there and sell. Ordinarily on the road side, were they having stalls there? No, they were using these umbrella and make shift shades. So if they enter into
the market, they can also prepare similar things inside the market instead of blocking the road.
In tombia market, we found out they are always doing their business on top of the bridge. And there have been clamours that they should disperse. The law establishing this sanitation authority, has it that the authority has the power to arrest, prosecute and even impound goods being sold in an unauthorised places and when you go to the definition of a market, the bridge where they are currently selling is not a market by definition. So already since the definition of a bridge is not a market, that place is already an unauthorised place by law. So there is no point allowing any person to sell on top of the bridge, that is what informed the authority to hold several meetings with all the market leaders including Keke drivers. I now convened another meeting to tell them that now that the mobile court is on, any person found on the bridge would forfeit his wares and be charged to court. When I held the meeting with them, I said if we see that people are stubborn, market leaders would be held responsible.
They agreed that they would help the authority to enforce the law and the deal is working. If you get to the bridge now, nobody is selling there.
Do you intend to demolish illegal structures at the Tombia Market too?
The demolition of Tombia Market is not the issue now because the governor has not given anybody the go- ahead. Until the governor gives the approval, it is then it would be done, For now, I cannot confirm.
Why demolish Swali Market and no approval to demolish illegal structures at Tombia and other market?
Yes the governor said it would be a gradual process. All the markets would not be rushed at the same time but with the demolition in Swali, if other markets would comply, better for them.
Are there plans to expand Swali Market or move it to another location?
The governor mentioned it that there is an open area very big enough which we have checked. Just by the Swali market that they built all these illegal structures. So the area has been bulldozed open and the governor has said that he was going to meet with the relevant ministry to see how it would be developed.
There is this clamour that meat sellers should not be roasting meat with tyres because of the health implications. What is this all about?
Yes in our sensitisation, all the market leaders were with me. We went round and saw the chairman of meat sellers and told him we don’t roasting of cow skin as from 8am because of the smoke as well as the issue of roasting with tyre which is against the sanitation law. After the discussion, he told us that they have been informed and some people were already complying as majority of them now use fire wood.
How healthy is the meat consumed in Bayelsa, who certifies them for consumption?
We have not actually gone into medical inspection of meat for consumption. And it supposed to be done in conjunction with the ministries of health, agriculture and trade.
