Ini Billie, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Government has inaugurated an enforcement team to ensure compliance on the ban of scavengers, open grazing and motorcycles use in Uyo metropolis.
Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem had on January 4, announced the ban on scrap scavengers in the state following the death of three persons following the clash between youths and the scavengers.
Speaking on Monday in Uyo, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Security Matters and Special Services, Capt. Iniubong Ekong (rtd), said the inauguration of the task force was to ensure that the directives of government were obeyed to the letter.
Ekong who stated that the enforcement was for the safety and security of the people, said it became necessary to check internal insecurity in the state.
He justified the ban on scavengers’ activities saying the law protecting the environment views scrap as an environmental dysfunction resulting from environmental uncleanliness included in environmental laws of the state.
He explained that investigations reveal that most heinous crimes such as rape, burglary, stealing were perpetuated with the use of motorcycles.
“We have seen ugly development that Okada has started creeping in especially in Uyo metropolis, and part of Uyo capital city. This has not in any way helped the positivity of our security architecture.
“Again, we have seen the menace of the scrap operators on the livelihood and peace of our people. The government has not in any way positioned itself to block peoples’ lead sources of livelihood, but the freedom of one to conduct business must not impede on the right of existence of the other.
“Government will not keep quiet and allow a set of business ‘entrepreneurs’ who want to survive and grow their business at the expense of freedom and livelihood of any other person.
“Every other citizen resident or organic is equal to the other in all ramifications and government has the responsibility to guarantee freedom, safety and peace for all.
“Consequent upon this, the government has set up enforcement team on the ban to move around to ensure total compliance,” he stated.
The SSA also mentioned that a mobile court would sit in Ibom Hall, Uyo, to try defaulters, adding that seized motorcycles would be crushed publicly as the government has already made arrangements with a crushing company in Aba, Abia State, to perform the exercise every two weeks.
He charged security officers drawn from the Nigerian Police, the Military, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to be diligent and not to engage in physical combat with defaulters.
He informed them that they were not exempted from the ban, especially those officers who use motorcycles in the banned zones, saying Governor Udom Emmanuel has approved allowance and welfare packages for them.