NAN-H-46
Evacuation
By Ali Inuwa
Maiduguri, Nov. 10, 2016 (NAN) The Borno State Government on Thursday ordered the immediate evacuation of charcoal sellers and other traders on major highways in Maiduguri.
Alhaji Kaka-Shehu Lawan, Acting Commissioner for Environment, gave the order when he visited the Borno Environment Protection Agency in Maiduguri.
He said the order became necessary to prevent pollution of the environment and restore the beauty of the city.
Lawan, who is also Commissioner for Justice, expressed disgust over the operations of the traders on the highways.
The commissioner said that aside from polluting the environment, the traders also disrupted free flow of vehicular traffic in the city.
“These people have taken control of certain areas operating without approval. Government will no longer tolerate them.
“We shall work within the enabling laws; Maiduguri is an ancient city, a city with long history.
“But you will find domestic animals roaming the streets, or being sold on the streets; charcoal sellers taking over the place, you hardly find this in other capitals’’, Lawan said.
The commissioner stressed that the agency must relocate them without delay to restore sanity on the roads.
He said his visit was aimed at getting information first hand on the operations of the agency and commended the management for its hard work and dedication to duty.
Sole Administrator of the Borno Environment Protection Agency, Malam Nasiru Surundi, said the agency, established in 1986, had lived up to expectations by ensuring the protection of the environment in Maiduguri.
He thanked the commissioner for the visit.. (NAN)
ABI/FF/IEA
==========
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Idahosa Asowata