Market association warns members against blocking water channels

THE Mile Three Market Traders’ Association in Port Harcourt, has warned its members against indiscriminate disposal of refuse in drains in and around the market, to avoid flooding the area.

The Chairman of the association, Mr Vincent Nnokam, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, against the backdrop of the recurring flood in the market.

Nnokam said the association would partner with the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to arrest and prosecute those causing environmental problems in the market.

“In working with the agency, we will be able to arrest and prosecute those blocking the waterways, and some sanity will be restored,’’ he said.

He decried the attitude of some traders in the market who had continued to dump refuse in the drains despite several warnings.

He said that the activities of the stubborn members always resulted in the blockage of the water channels, especially during the rainy season.

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“It is saddening that our members are not helping matters; how do you stop flooding when we are the ones compounding the issue?
“Traders should be able to exhibit good sanitary habits in the face of a recurring flood in the market especially during the rainy periods,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that some traders in the market lost a huge amount of goods to flood during the 2017 rainy season.