The Rivers State Physical Planning and Urban Development has announced a total ban on the use of unauthorized government’s open public spaces along major roads and streets of Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and its environs for motor parks, trading and erection of illegal structures.

Commissioner for Urban Development, Evans Bipi made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

He said it is regrettable that activities of some operators of commercial vehicles and traders have continued to impede free flow of traffic on our roads resulting to traffic bottlenecks with its attendant daily man-hour losses and socio-economic implication.

He frowned at the proliferation of illegal structures and shanties along major roads and streets of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor as these defaces the physical landscape of the State and undermines the urban development initiatives of the Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

He vowed to strictly enforce the ban on the use of unauthorized public spaces for such illegal activities while expressing his determination to rid the State of the menace and restore the Garden City status of Port Harcourt.

He warned operators of illegal motor parks to immediately relocate and operate within designated motor parks as failure to comply would attract severe government action against them in accordance with the law.