Hundreds of street traders affected in the ongoing demolition of illegal structures and make-shift shops in Abakaliki, Tuesday appealed to government for assistance to enable them get back to business.

A cross section of the traders, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the latest government policy had thrown them out of business, adding that they now found it difficult to feed their families.

The traders, who described the policy as draconian, alleged that government neither gave them enough time to find alternative spaces nor were they provided a place to relocate their businesses.

One of the affected traders, Mr. Ben Okike, who once owned a kiosk at Kpiri-Kpiri, said the business had enabled him to feed his family for many years.

“I have operated this kiosk for more than 15 years and have been paying all taxes to relevant government bodies.

“The order for removal came without much time given to affected people to look for alternative places before their task force came to execute the order.

“The policy is anti-masses and I am appealing to government to assist us to get back to business

as soon as we can.”

Another victim, Mrs. Chinyere Elom, who operated a restaurant at Achi Street, said the policy was a deliberate attempt by the new administration to inflict untold hardship on the poor masses.

She said that the demolition structures would cripple small business enterprises and urged the government to provide alternative spaces to the hundreds of victims affected by the policy.

“The policy is not in the interest of the ordinary citizens of the state who eke out a living from their petty businesses.

“What do you expect someone who was suddenly put out of business to do?

“Government should have a re-think and understand that so much was invested in establishing the businesses.

“And we cannot become economic refugees in our own state.”

Mr. Chke Onwe, whose provision shop was demolished, told NAN that feeding his family had become a difficult task because he had yet to get another location for his business.

He said: “renting a shop at the Abskpa Main Market goes between N1m and N1.5m depending on the location and size of the shop.

“The price of shops at that location is very costly and that is the only well-structured market in the capital city.

“I am appealing to government to consider our plight and give us urgent assistance.”

Meanwhile, the government has insisted that the policy is aimed at sanitizing the capital city and dismissed insinuations that the policy was anti-masses.

The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Moses Nomeh said the policy which had legal backing was made to create a clean and safe city for the benefit of the people.

He appealed to those affected by the ongoing exercise to see the development as part of their sacrifices to enhance the aesthetics of the capital city and not a witch-hunt exercise.

“The amended Abakaliki Capital Development Board Law of 2015 gives the ministry power to remove any illegal and unapproved structures used for either business or any other purpose located within the perimeters of the capital territory.

“The law is aimed at achieving a clean, healthy and disciplined environment befitting of a capital city.

“Government does not intend to use the policy to hurt the city dwellers but rather to create an environment that will promote healthy living.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Umahi