By Nkechi Odumosor
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State government has been called upon to make provision for traders displaced by the operation of Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSTDA) from making their sales.
The call came from food vendors, street traders and others in Asaba the Delta State Capital.
Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) headed by Hon Mrs Joan Onyemaechi Mrakpor in recent operations sent traders who hawk and sell wares along Asaba City roads and traffics packing.
The people while responding to interview by Ndokwa Reporters complained that the displacement has affected their income their only options of survival is to hawk and sell along the roads to earn their living. The call for proper provision should be made for these people because people survive daily on coming out to sell, , stopping them totally without alternative for them is not the best they said.
They also complained that, it is a big challenge to them because it is their major source of income and some hawk to support their families and stopping them may likely push majority of these people into crime and other illegal acts, if proper provision is not made.
They acknowledge that what the (DSCTDA) is doing is good because it makes Asaba in particular to look attractive but asked consideration should be given for them.
Mrs Isioma Okobi who sells fruits said that, it is not good to displace them without giving them alternative place because most people earn a living from it and those people who only feed from Hawking now that they have been stopped, it will bring increase in crime rate in the state and she added that it is affecting her daily sales as cannot openly display her fruits for people to see and buy.
Mercy who now sells cooked beans on street somewhere off Okpanam road said it is affecting her business because she got more patronage while selling along the road and it is the only means she use to feed her family, and most times she does not finish what she prepares in a day.
Those who have been given a place like Mr Stanley a Keke (tricycle) said what Mrs. Mrakpor is doing is good because it had given Asaba a particular to good look and neat. She stated in her on case, she was given a place to sell and makes it easy for someone who wants to buy things to see what he or she wants. And for those who do not have a place to sell, Government should make provision for them so they can have a place close to them to sell their wares.
