By Mustapha Jallow
Bakary Manneh, an official of the National Road Authority (NRA), who was seen fully protected by armed paramilitary officers and soldiers, has warned businesses to start moving their canteens and stalls that are illegally occupying the roads.
He said failure to do so could spark demolition, and other punishment follows.
“Leave before we come. Go and find good places. You can find better places in the markets. Failing to comply will lead to destruction. Your property will not spread,” Manneh further warned.
The special security operation targeted illegal encroachment
The official made this warning while speaking on behalf of the joint operation team. The exercise is carried out by the police in collaboration with the Department of Physical Planning, including line ministries and security agencies.
The operation, referred to as a “special security operation on illegal encroachment,” targets permanent and temporary structures and installations that are in breach of the laws governing road safety and public order.
But Manneh explained several reasons for the demolition, which include the safety of the people’s movement along the road, vehicle plying, and ambulances to ply freely without jams.
He said many shops lacked required approvals and were occupying the areas illegally, thus violating the law of the land, noting that the structures had no planning permit and were built around the roads.
Some occupants of the affected shops, canteens, and stalls were given little time to evacuate the structures and belongings
However, the official called on the residents to report cases of those trying to rebuild theirs illegally to the government.
“The government is here to save lives and properties. So, people must comply because this is good for all,” he said.
When asked whether business owners were noticed before the commencement of the exercise, Manneh replied: “Well, when you are doing something illegal on the road – you should not expect authorities to serve you notice. We’ve sent notices throughout the press releases (TVs, radios, and social media). We also conducted some sensitization programs.”
Manneh also warned drivers to abandon their cars along the roads, saying that charges or fines would be imposed on anyone using the road as a parking ground.
A Nigerian woman who sells nopal credits was seen rushing towards the official. She asked him, “Hello, sir – should nopal sellers be allowed to sell along the road?” The official replied: “Go and look for a better place. The road is not a nopal selling ground. I would advise you to go to the market instead.”
Ndey Matta, a shop owner around LatriKunda, looks terrified after some part of her shop was struck down. She said she has been selling at the place for 19 years.
Matta claimed to have spent over D50,000 in building that small area.
“This pained me. This is not correct. The authorities claimed that the demolition was related to road accidents. Well, how will such reduce accidents? This exercise cannot reduce that {accidents} because we are still hearing reports of accidents now and then,” she said.
Matta blamed the drivers while accusing them of causing these nightmares in the country. Some needed to have manners and attend a driving school or have proper documents.
She was asked whether the authorities had served a notice; she replied: “Never. They never served me any notice. I only saw this on the internet. No one ever came to me with a letter that they were going to conduct this exercise. Destroying our shops means ruining our lives because we rely on this business to help our families, especially our kids. This is painful. Many are still crying,” she stressed.
Yama Mboow, a pretty businesswoman, claimed she had spent D45,000 on her business.
It was in the morning, 10 am, when Mboob’s business, where she earns a small profit to feed her kids, got ruined overnight.
“I have five kids. My husband divorced me. He left me with five children. They are going to school. All their feeding, school fees, and so on – comes from this business,” she narrates while weeping.
He asked whether, before she built her canteen, she attempted to consult the physical planning department about her intention to start a business near the road.
But she responded negatively and quickly added that she was referred to Jeshwang’s Alkali, who had allocated the place to her.
Mboow said: “I sell breakfast and lunch here. If I had known such an exercise would happen, I would not have invested my money. I also invested this money, so I will not allow myself to be sleeping (sex) with men to feed my family.”
“I want the government to help me recover the losses because I don’t want to go around sleeping with men to have money. I work hard to take care of and feed my family, especially my little children,” she added.
