They have therefore appealed to the Ebonyi State government to regulate the activities of the task force officials, alleging harassment, intimidation, molestation and imposing multiple levies.
The business owners made the appeal on Thursday, September 17, as they said they are tired of the constant seizure of their items.
For example, a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator at Diamond Point Junction, Mary Okpaga, described her encounters with members of the task force who claimed they are from the Ministry of Environment as bitter and horrible.
Okpaga, a Public Administration graduate, said she ventured into the POS business to keep herself engaged in the absence of white-collar job.
She, however, alleged that task force officials had disrupted her business twice, confiscating her table, umbrella and other valuables.
“I have had an encounter with the Ministry of Environment task force twice, whereby they packed my table, umbrella and other valuables and demanded that I pay N50,000.
“After much appeal, I paid N15,000 without being issued a receipt,” she alleged.
Okpaga further alleged that the officials told her they would determine the amount she would pay during their next visit.
She urged the state government to regulate the activities of the task force and establish a clearly defined annual environmental levy to enable roadside operators to plan their businesses.
She also called for proper identification cards for task force officials to enable members of the public distinguish authorised officers from impostors.
Similarly, Mrs ThankGod Joshua, who roasts plantain at the same location, alleged that the task force officials collected N2,000 and N10,000 from her on separate occasions without issuing receipts.
Joshua also alleged that the officials confiscated chairs, sticks and other items belonging to her, adding that the items had yet to be returned.
She described the alleged actions as unfair and called for government policies that would enable roadside business operators to carry out their activities in a more conducive in environment.
Responding, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Sylvester Nwite, said the ministry had zero tolerance for the use of dehumanising approaches in the discharge of government duties.
Nwite said officials of the ministry were committed to upholding human dignity in the course of carrying out their responsibilities.
He added that the ministry would not condone actions that undermined the rights and dignity of members of the public, saying any government official who collects money without issuing receipts should be reported..
