Petty traders in Uyo metropolis Tuesday sobbed following the demolition of their shops by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
Authorities of the Uyo Capital City Development Authority, UCCDA, led by the Chairman, Mr. Anietie Eka, accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways, under the commissioner, Maj. Gen. Koko Essien (rtd) demolished illegal structures including shop extensions along Ibom Plaza, Aka Road and Nung Oku axis.
It was learnt that government’s notice to the traders to vacate the area elapsed on June 18, 2024.
The stranded petty traders, whose makeshift shops were destroyed, some with goods inside, lamented that the notice given by government was not enough for relocation.
One Edidiong Effiong, who deals in fabrics, said, “Government has become so insensitive to the plight of the people. All my goods have been destroyed inside the shop because when the taskforce arrived this morning, no time was given to us to salvage our wares before destroying the structures.”
Another trader, Aniekan Umoh, said, “During election period, they would come cap-in-hand begging even common people like us for vote; after that the real people-oriented governance will disappear.”
“I am a graduate of Philosophy, but since I couldn’t find job since I graduated, I had to loan capital to start up this business as government said we should ‘ARISE’ but the same government is the one destroying my only means of livelihood. How do I repay the loan?,” Ekpe Udoh, a wine dealer, cried out.
Speaking to some angry youths present at the scene, the Chairman of UCCDA, Eka, emphasized the need of clearing the government-owned forest, citing the need to ensure the security of residents and achieve the remodeling target of the government.
The Commissioner for Internal Security, Essien said the move is aimed at tackling the root causes of crimes and building a safer and more secure city for all citizens in the state, as encapsulated in the security management aspiration of the ‘ARISE Agenda.’
