… Wailing as victims fined, forced to do sanitation duties
A major clampdown on street trading has been launched in Obio/Akpor, regarded as one the richest local council areas in Nigeria.
The clampdown has already led to wailing as those arrested have been fined and clamped into forced corporal work of sanitation duties for days. Traders who talked to newsmen said they have been subjected to new hardship by being driven off the roads as they said shops were out of reach.
The order was issued days ago against trading at the Rumokoro flyover but most traders felt it was the usual warning, until those arrested found out it was for real.
It is understood that the clampdown would spread to all parts of the local council, which is bigger than half of the state capital and one of the largest LGAs in Rivers State because of its propensity to expand into Ogoni Road, Aba Road, Owerri Road, and Bayelsa Road whereas the other section of Port Harcourt shares boundary mainly with the Ocean or river.
Confirming the clampdown, Gift Worlu, chairman of Obio/Akpor, from the Management Department of the University of Port Harcourt as lecturer, issued an update to all stakeholders on what he called the ongoing enforcement of the immediate and total ban on all forms of market, street, roadside, and hawking activities in and around the Okoro-Nu-Odo Flyover, along the Rumuodomaya Road leading to the Council Secretariat, and within the affected corridor, as announced in the press release dated 19th January, 2026.
The statement said: “The overall objective of this ban is to enhance the security and safety of residents and commuters by reducing congestion, obstruction of pathways, and associated risks such as accidents and criminal activities often linked to unregulated street trading. It also aims to improve urban aesthetics, promote cleanliness, and restore orderliness in our public spaces for a more livable and attractive and aesthetically pleasing environment in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
“Following the issuance of the directive, which took immediate effect and remains in full force 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Mondays through Sundays, weekends, and public holidays; the Council’s Enforcement Task Force, in collaboration with relevant security agencies, has commenced strict monitoring and compliance operations in the designated areas.”
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The statement said the chairman was pleased that the enforcement measures have yielded positive results in the early days of implementation. “Several individuals who were found contravening the ban by engaging in illegal street trading, hawking, or roadside vending have been apprehended by the Council’s Task Force in collaboration with the security agencies.
“In line with the Council’s approach of enforcement and compliance, which is fair, firm, and strictly guided by extant laws and regulations, the following offenders have been cautioned, signed formal undertakings, and pledged never to repeat such violations.”
He gave 10 names of those arrested and made to do corporal punishment. “These individuals have each paid the prescribed administrative fine and are currently embarking on three days of mandatory community service with the Environmental Sanitation Unit of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council.”
The clampdown went a bit draconian by threatening any shop owner who aids, abets, or permits persons to sell their wares in front of their shop/stall (including providing space, encouragement, or tolerance of such activities) to be penalized for complicity in violation.
He hinted at broader exercise in all of the local council area, an action that may lead to high tension as hundreds of thousands make a living on the roads and makeshift shops would be in danger. Shops are said to have gone out of reach of most petty traders.
The chairman said all security agencies, community leaders, shop owners, market masters, market associations, and the general public have once again been urged to support and cooperate with the Council.
