The Task Force on Beautification and Sanitation of Effurun and Warri, Delta State, has started demolishing illegal structures in the area.
The Task Force, led by its Chairman, Prof. Chike Okolocha, began the exercise last week at the newspaper depot at Airport Junction and Mobile Police ground along the Effurun-Ughelli Express road, where it yanked off all the make-shift structures and caravans.
Okolocha, who spoke to Daily Independent, reiterated the outfit�s determination to abolish trading on the highways as it poses dangers to the lives of the people.
The task force chairman pointed out that apart from negatively affecting the aesthetic design of the city, the traders along Effurun-Sapele road market were yet to comply with “the stop trading on the highway order, which was handed to them recently.”
Besides, Okolocha disclosed that the task force would embark on enlightenment campaigns to demonstrate the seriousness of the exercise.
He debunked the claim by some traders that they pay levies to trade on the highway, stressing that the task force was not aware of such levies and more so many of these levies were illegal.
According to him, “you don�t pay levy to trade on highways; it is completely illegal and we cannot be bound by such illegality. It is important for Uvwie Local Government Area to address the issue and I am delighted to tell you that the Directorate of Personnel Management of the council is a member of my sub-committee and will address the problem of illegal levies that is even if such levies are imposed by his council.”