Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike says he will clamp down on street trading which includes illegal motor parks, taxi stops, mechanic workplaces and unlicenced kiosks from January 4.

In a statewide broadcast on January 2, Mr. Wike said the disorganised activities have gotten to a level that could no longer be tolerated in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers.

In August 2019, Mr. Wike inaugurated a task force on widespread street trading, illegal markets and motor parks, saying he wanted to sanitise the streets and return the state to its ‘Garden City’ status. The Rivers State House of Assembly also passed a bill to prohibit the activities as outlawed by the governor. 

Residents, however, complained that the officers charged with enforcing the law were themselves deadly and corrupt.The complaints included how task force personnel frequently disguised as passengers to board commercial vehicles, after which they would then introduce themselves and arrest vehicles for illegal parking.

The governor responded to the criticism by firing members of the task force, including its secretary Bright Amaewhule, for which he received commendations from civic groups.