Plateau bans hawking, street trading, illegal motor parks

Following the twin bomb blasts that rocked the central business area of Jos on May 20, Plateau State Government has banned street trading, hawking and street motor parks directing all traders to move to Rukuba Road Satellite Market. The state government also directed all traders operating along Murtala Muhammad Way, Ahmadu Bello Way, Terminus Area, Tudun Wada, Chobe, Dilimi, Bukuru and Rantya Low Cost Junction to vacate the areas. A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Olivia Dazyam, also declared that street motor parks in the central business area of Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammad Way and terminus areas had been banned and all operators were to move to designated motor parks. All the existing temporary structures littering the central business areas, especially within the Greater Jos master plan, were being cleared and the owners were consequently prohibited from operating them again. While sympathising with families of the deceased, and those who were injured in the incidents, the statement urged residents of the city to desist from patronising street traders, saying their areas of operations had become vulnerable flash points and advised them to use designated markets only.