Activities of petty traders such as bread, juice, clothes, meat, cooking ingredients, fish, food stuff sellers including wrong parking of vehicles are contributing to a large number of accidents, traffic congestion and filthy environments in Taraba State.
The traders, it was discovered, have abandoned the use of constructed shops in designated market squares and taken over roadsides at different market areas for their businesses, causing a series of vehicle accidents, unhygienic and filthy environments in the state.
LEADERSHIP Sunday findings in Jalingo, Tela, Garba Chede, Mai-Hula, Iware and Garbabi markets showed that major roads have been taken over by the traders, making it difficult for free-flow of vehicles particularly on market days.
It was also gathered that vehicles often lose control at such places and run into the people who often take over the roads for trading.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that a 400-level student of the Department of Mass Communication, Taraba State University, was on Saturday, September 30 knocked down and killed by a bus driver.
During interrogation by security agents, the driver blamed the congestion of the road by the activities of petty traders who he said have taken over the road and prevented him from seeing the student while he was trying to cross the road.
At Roadblock, the heartbeat of Jalingo town, it was discovered that the traders have permanently sited their businesses at the pedestrian ways at the newly constructed dual-carriage road along Wukari Numan Federal Highway.
Apart from road accidents, our correspondent gathered that the activities of the petty traders on the major roads cause blockage of drainages, making it very difficult for free-flow of water which mostly causes floods in the urban areas.
Most of the markets mentioned are located on Federal Highways, their activities as gathered by our correspondent proved to cause slow traffic flow and most times affect motorists plying the roads to engage in physical combat with the traders to gain access to the roads.
The coordinator, Taraba State Sanitation Agency (TSSA), Hon Iliya Kefas while revealing the challenge being faced by his agency said the activities of the traders have made it difficult for the agency to keep the areas clean due to reckless behaviours of some of the people who carelessly drop refuse dumps after trading hours.
Kefas said the major areas that are giving headache to the agency in its bid to make Jalingo clean include Jalingo Main Market, Roadblock Roundabout and Jalingo Main Motor Park.
“The activities of petty traders who usually stand on the road are giving us a serious headache. They have forced us to organise three shifts for our workers. Some of our workers go to the areas as early as 6am, some go to work at 12 noon while the last shift go to work at 4pm to ensure that we monitor the areas to ensure that they are clean.
“We are pleading with the government to make available shops in the strategic market for the people to let so that our roads will be decongested to make Jalingo clean.
The public relations officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Taraba State Command, Mr Ibrahim Usman while confirming unhealthy activities of the traders said they have been obstructing traffic at various market points in the state.
Usman further confirmed that the state recently set up a special taskforce which the FRSC is a member to decongest roadsides and dislodge traders who have taken over federal highways in the state.
“Going by the illegal occupation of the traders who have been obstructing traffic especially on federal highways, Governor Agbu Kefas has set up a special taskforce to decongest all the affected areas. At the end of our meeting next week, we shall begin strict enforcement by arresting offenders for prosecution.
“The governor has also promised to make available towing van(s) to the taskforce to evacuate wrongly parked vehicles that often obstruct traffic.
“A journey that takes 30 minutes for a driver, due to the road congestion by traders, often takes up to one hour. It is our sincere belief that with the coming of the taskforce, free-flow of traffic will be enhanced,” Usman stated.