Cart Pushers Protest Ban By Rivers State Government

By John Amaowoh
Against the backdrop on the ban of Cart Pushers in Rivers State, over five thousand (5000) able body young men and youths have kicked against the ban on the activities of cart pushers on the streets of Port Harcourt and its environ by the Rivers state Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) in Nigeria .
The Cart Pushers who are mostly populated by Northerners youths with a blends from other states of the nation are pleading on the Rivers State Government to reconsider action as the ban may push some of them to venture into areas that they have never though about to begin with, adding that the ban so far have greatly impacted negatively against their businesses and families.
Speaking to our correspondent in Port Harcourt, South South, Nigeria, a leader of the group, Association of Scrap Dealers, Alkasim Yusuf who is also the Vice Chairman of the body said, though the action by the state government agency was negatively affecting them but that they are appealing to the government to rescind the enforcement on the ban so as to give room for dialogue and the way forward –since the action is something that concerns the livelihood of Nigerians.
Yusuf who maintained that since the ban was pronounced most of their members have started relocating from the state, while some of their family members are now currently going through hardship and lack of money as a result of the ban therefore calling of the government, some spiritual and well meaning Nigeria to join them in appealing to the Rivers Government to reconsidered their action on the ban.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) under the leadership of Bro.Felix Obuah gave the order for Cart Pushers to leave the Streets and roads of Port Harcourt capital and its environ. The state RIWAMA Boss said the order deadline end February 17, 2020.
Obuah who renewed the warning, while addressing of some the cart pushers in Port Harcourt, explained that the ban became necessary as their activities have become a nuisance and turning some areas to an eyesore with indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the streets and roads.
But Sani Ibrahim also a northern youths and an executive member of one of the northern association, said the action of RIWAMA at this point in time was a huge mistake because there was no consultation before the action.
“I think the action of the government is a great mistake. There was no consultation. How do you just wake up and send thousands of families to a hard situation. Does he want us to go and steal?” Ibrahim asked.
He described some of the allegations leveled against them by the agency of government as totally untruth.“the “We are even helping government to keep the state clean. We pick condemned cartons, irons and what have you .tell me? We are hardworking people and not as we are refer to…” He stressed.
Ibrahim continuing, said they will keep appealing to the government to reconsider their action because the issue is quiet disturbing and impacting negatively against their individual families. “We are not going to fight government .we keep on appealing to them”
The point for contention is not there; those in the business particularly around the railway along D/Line are over one thousand able body youths. Some of us were born into the business so tell me what does the government want us to do now?