Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has stated that his administration will provide alternatives in all locations where it will stop Street trading in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas.
He said that without the provision of alternatives where the street traders will ply their trade, families involved in street trading may resort to crime.
The governor spoke on Sunday during the 3rd Synod of the Diocese of Evo, Anglican Church in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
He said : “It is difficult to end Street trading suddenly. This is because of the hunger in the land. For us, we have resolved to get alternative locations for the street traders before we move them.
“If we don’t provide these alternatives, we may have a situation where these Street traders resort to crime. “
He explained that the State Government has already started the relocation of street traders in Rumuokoro after acquiring a location where they will ply their trade.
Commenting on unemployment, Governor Wike said that the state government has taken several steps to create employment opportunities for youths.
He regretted that some Indigenous youths don’t want to invest their energies in daily vocational opportunities because they claim that the take home is too small for them.
To further create employment opportunities for the youths, Governor Wike said that 200 youths will be sent to Israel for training in Agriculture.
On the relationship between the State Government and the Missions as regards intervention in schools, the governor said that he will adopt the Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State model where the state supported schools owned by the missions with grants to support improvement of facilities.
He assured the church that his administration will continue to live up to the expectations of the people.
“God gave me the opportunity to be a governor. I will use this mandate for the benefit of the people “, he said.
He added that the State Government will rehabilitate the ACM Girls.
In his remarks, Bishop of Evolution Diocese of Anglican Church, Rt Reverend Innocent Ordu said that God made it possible for the governor to emerge at this period for the development of the state.
He urged the governor to continue to invest in road construction, improvement of security and the creation of employment.
