Cross River Moves to Clear Walkways, Restore Order at 8 Miles Market
By Judex Okoro
The Cross River State Government has directed traders and vendors illegally occupying pedestrian walkways around the 8 Miles Market area of Calabar to vacate the spaces and relocate into the designated market as part of efforts to restore order, safety and free movement in the state capital.
The Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Bassey Mensah, gave the directive during an inspection of the area, where he was accompanied by the Mayor of Calabar, Bishop James Anam, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Toll Collection, Prince Bassey Ita Edet.
Mensah frowned at the practice of allocating public roads to traders and collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting vendors instead of encouraging them to move into the market, insisting that public spaces must be protected for their intended purposes.
“We cannot continue to have persons allocating public roads to traders and collecting illegal levies from unsuspecting traders instead of encouraging them to move inside the market,” the Commissioner said.
He appealed to traders and vendors to discontinue blocking walkways, stressing that pedestrian routes must remain accessible to ensure the free and safe movement of residents and visitors.
Mensah also ordered the removal of all tables, kiosks, wheelbarrows and umbrellas placed on walkways, saying, “Safe foot traffic must be restored in the state,” particularly for strollers, tourists and people using crutches and wheelchairs.
The Commissioner equally frowned at the indiscriminate disposal of nylon bags, plastic bottles, papers, cartons and other domestic waste into gutters and water channels, warning that such practices block waterways, obstruct the free flow of water and cause flooding.
He therefore called on traders and members of the public to support government’s environmental efforts by participating in community cleanups and clearing blocked drains. “We must clear blocked drains to save our homes and avert other avoidable environmental damages,” he said.
Mensah further urged pedestrians to use designated footpaths rather than traffic lanes, noting that such compliance would help minimise the risks of accidents and promote safer movement within the city.
During the inspection, the Commissioner and other government officials issued Tuesday, September 8, 2026 as the deadline for illegal occupants of the sidewalks to vacate the pedestrian walkways and relocate their businesses to 8 Miles Market.
He warned that those who failed to comply would face forceful removal by city authorities and enforcement personnel, maintaining that “there must be sanity and orderliness in the state, especially in the capital city.”
Mensah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing a serene environment for residents and tourists, while thanking Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu for his continued support and commitment to the wellbeing of the people and the state
*THE BEAGLE BEWS*
