The Anambra State government has accused newspaper vendors operating in Awka of blackmailing following the recent attempt by officials of the state government to enforce a ban on street trading.
Earlier, officials of the Awka Capital Territory Development Agency, ACTDA, destroyed confiscated newspapers displayed on the stand by vendors on Thursday and Friday.
The officials said there was a standing order to stop all forms of street trading, but the vendors insisted that the officials were targeting newspapers that were critical of Governor Charles Soludo.
The Anambra State government, in a press release by the governor’s press secretary, Christian Aburime, said the accusation was an attempt to blackmail the government.
Aburime, in a press statement made available to journalists in Awka, said: “It has been observed with concern the resort to needless uproar and untrue allegations by the news vendors within Awka capital territory regarding the enforcement of regulations related to street vending.
“The truth is, while the state government understands the vital role the media plays in a healthy democracy and appreciates the contributions of news vendors, it cannot allow any act of violation of public order on the pretext of street vending.
“The Awka Capital Territory, like any other capital city, has its master plan for proper development, and it is the government’s primary responsibility to ensure public safety and order for all residents and visitors within the city.
“Unfortunately, unregulated street vending, particularly on major roads, has become a public nuisance, whereby vendors occupying roadways not only deface the environment but also impede the free flow of traffic, causing delays and frustration for commuters.”
He said ACTDA has undertaken efforts to address the problem by restricting the activities of news vendors to designated areas.
He complained that the newspaper vendors, who also operate POS centres, sell snacks by the roadside, and this violates the ban on street trading, which the state government would not tolerate.
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