Task Force threatens street traders in Jos

The street traders have one week to comply with the directive.

The Task Force on Jos City renewal has issued a 7-day ultimatum to street traders and hawkers who ply their trade around Ahmadu Bello way, Murtala Mohammed way, and Rwang-pam Street in Jos to relocate to other market places.

The task force is charged with the responsibility of demolishing illegal structures in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The Chairman of the Task Force, Musa Gambo, in a statement on Wednesday warned that defaulters will face the wrath of the law. He informed that mobile courts have been set up to punish defaulters.

Several attempts by the Governor Jonah Jang administration to relocate street traders in and around the burnt Jos main market, known as “Terminus Market,” has not succeeded.

According to a statement by the city renewal task-force, the state government has provided an alternative market place within the state capital for traders who do not have approved shops around the Terminus Market.

The traders have, however, complained of low sales in the new market place provided by government; and have deserted such places and resorted to hawking.

Most of the affected traders, since 2001 when the Terminus Market was gutted by fire, have remained on major streets of Jos, selling their goods.