BY POLYCARP IFEANYI / ONITSHA
Onitsha the commercial nerve of Igbo land is now wearing a new look following the intervention of an environmental task force renamed “Make Way Team” which commenced its operation in the metropolis with vigour.
The President-General of Anambra State Market Amalgamated Traders Association ( ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna, while commending the Team yesterday, explained that it was formerly known as “Market Taskforce” but was changed to “Make Way team”.
Chief Anuna said that five persons from various markets across the state were selected to form the team.
He added that their duty is to make sure that there is no obstruction on roads leading to market and inside it.
“Other duties included: “to ensure that there is no street traders, no illegal revenue collection, monitoring gutters and traders who are showcasing wares on top of gutter. They ate not permitted to go to Highway or collect money from the public unless someone willingly appreciate them with money”, he said.
The Onwa Ora- eri as he is fondly called by his admirers stated that he was impressed on the calibers of people who were enrolled in “Make Way Team”, saying that “they are tested and trusted young men”.
Daily News Nigeria Correspondent who monitored the team on duty observed that the popular Ibru fish, Iweka road, Zik’s Avenue by Amobi street, Menace, Akunnia Njioto amongst other major streets known for street trading in Onitsha are now decngested with free flow of vehicular movement.
Commenting, a tricycle operator, Mr. Nwabueze Nworie said that motorists and their colleagues plying the roads now operate easily since the traders were chased out from the major road.
Also, Chief Edwin Ebo and Mr Nduka Mmadu, respectively, noted that “Make Way Team” should not relent in their work, urging them to be visiting the area frequently so that those traders would not return again.
Others who spoke were: Food vendor, Mrs. Agnes Okoye, Mrs. Okeke Elizabeth and Chief Demian Ibe, a rice dealer.
In an interview, the Field Marshal of “Make Way Team”, Comrade Igwe Monday Maduabuchi, affirmed that some of their duties included chasing out street traders, check-mating traders who are showcasing wares on top of gutters, decongest roads in the markets, stopping illegal revenue collectors and those who are extorting money from wheelbarrow pushers.
“Our duty is to ensure that people comply with the Governor’s instruction. We make sure that traders vacate from street trading or showcasing their wares on top of gutters. They are the people who block drainage which causes severe flooding.
:What we need is betterment of the society. Street trading is not allowed and it is not proper. There are a lot of vacant shops inside Markets. We are pleading traders to go inside Markets and secure shops instead of causing obstruction on the roads.
“We don’t collect money, we don’t beat people. What we do is to carry out instructions from government. If any person proofs stubborn, we seize his wares to our office and hand the person over to security agency”, he concluded.
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