The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Governor Hope Uzodinma of misusing the Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) to harass citizens. The accusation follows the recent demolition of Toronto Junction Market in Owerri North Local Government Area, where goods and properties were destroyed, and several people were injured.
According to the PDP, ENTRACO has become a “terrorist organization in disguise” under the Uzodinma administration, using violence and intimidation against citizens. The party’s spokesperson, Lancelot Obiaku, stated that the commission’s actions are not enforcement but rather violence, and that any armed group that unleashes fear and harm on citizens fits the description of a terrorist organization.
ENTRACO was established in 2008 to beautify and maintain a clean environment in the state, overseeing sanitation, cleaning of gutters, and planting of flowers and trees. However, the PDP alleges that since the appointment of a new chairman, the commission has drifted from its founding purpose and has become a source of daily torment to motorists, traders, and small business owners.
The party expressed concern that the Imo State Traffic Management Agency (ISTMA) already exists to handle traffic and parking violations, making ENTRACO’s actions unnecessary. The PDP also criticized the governor for empowering one of his aides to move around with armed men, allegedly to monitor and evaluate, which the party believes encourages banditry and cultism.
The PDP recalled a recent incident where Naze youths blocked the ENTRACO office in protest over the killing of their brother in an accident caused by the commission’s operatives. The party pointed out that in other states, traffic offenses are curtailed without cruelty, citing the Abia State Harmonized Task Force as an example of a humane and effective enforcement agency.
The PDP called on the governor to stop ENTRACO from harassing and destroying the businesses of petty traders and to employ the right people and provide proper training for enforcement officials. The party maintained that victims of ENTRACO’s activities are people trying to fend for their families and should not be chased, beaten, and stripped of their trades.
The PDP’s criticism of ENTRACO’s actions highlights the need for a balanced approach to environmental transformation and law enforcement in Imo State. The party’s concerns about the commission’s violence and intimidation tactics have sparked a debate about the role of government agencies in maintaining order and protecting citizens’ rights. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the governor and ENTRACO will respond to the PDP’s allegations and calls for reform.
