Bayelsa Governor Places Ban On Street Trading, Illegal Structures
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Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, has placed a ban on street trading and ordered the removal of illegal structures around all markets in Yenagoa, the State Capital.
Senator Diri gave the order on Wednesday, May 5th, during the State’s weekly Executive Meeting inside the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Yenagoa.
The governor expatiated that the pronouncement was necessitated by the resurgence of clashes between rival cult groups at the Swali market area.
He recalled that at the inception of his administration, illegal traders and structures were evacuated from the Swali market to bring sanity to the area but regretted that it had been reoccupied by miscreants and traders.
According to the governor; “There has been a running battle between cult groups around the Swali market. We had earlier dislodged the same cultists at the beginning of this administration and ensured that the market was not obstructed. We also removed the illegal structures and traders.
“However, yesterday (Tuesday, May 4th), we had clashes between cult groups around Swali market area and traders that had taken over the roads. I hereby direct the Special Advisers on Security Matters and their team to swing into action at the Swali market again.
“From today, no street trading should be found in and around Swali market and all other markets within the State Capital.”
The Bayelsa Chief Executive further directed the Security Advisers to synergise with security agencies to carry out a 24-hour patrol around the Swali market area and other markets to ensure protection of lives and property, hinting that mobile courts would also be reinstated at the Swali market to prosecute defaulters of the order.
