My Neighborhood Watch #89 - Reporting Events Around us

Hello, my dear distinguish steemians, it has been a while though, I hope we all are doing very well.
Today, I sincerely came with with the latest neighborhood watch report for this week. Something that happened recently around my school area that I really believe everyone should be aware of. It’s indeed about how the actions of market hawkers and the state agencies are affecting the peaceful learning environment of the students in university of Uyo.

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The Issue with Market Hawkers

For some weeks now, our state agencies have all been trying to do away the market hawkers who insist selling by the roadside. These set of hawkers are supposed to stay in the main markets like the Ibom Plaza and other established markes, but they do prefer using busy roads such as Ikot Ekpene Road, Oron Road, Abak Road, and Ikpa Roundabout, where my dear school, UNIUYO Town Campus, is situated.

• This occupants has made this major roads to look small and narrow for vehicles, leading to traffic 🚦 and sometimes accidents. The State governor gives order for them to vacate the road side and moves to markets and operate their businesses. But Even after being chased away, they all return shortly after. To really stop them, the agencies now work with the police and mostly sometimes uses the teargas to scare them off as well as using tractor 🚜 machine to destroy their stand.

The Teargas Incident at UNIUYO

Just yesterday, while I was still with my seminar colleagues at school, something so scary happened. We were all in our supervisor’s office, Prof. Awodeyi, submitting our very first project work. While still discussing and taking corrections from the supervisor, we suddenly heard students running outside the premises. Out of our curiosity, we did stepped out to see what was going on, only to be hit by the vapors of the teargas. Although we heard a loud sound earlier, but we didn’t know it was teargas being released on the road nearby our school and department.

• The teargas vapors really spread into the school premises, the office and unfortunately, our department was directly affected by it. Our eyes started hurting us and gets red, and we couldn’t stop the tears. Our professor also felt the same pain. I was bitter and so sorry for him because he is aging unlike us.
  After getting relief a bit, he shared some of his own experiences on dealing with people outside the school premises and mentioned that situating a school close to a very busy markets and roads might not be the best idea at all. It exposes the students and staff to risks like noise pollution and dangerous incidents like this teargas experience which can leads to health hazard.

A Risky Situation for Everyone

This very incident we face was truly heartening. It massively shows how anyone could fall victim to such of dangers and, sadly, could even lose their life in the process if care is not taken. The use of teargas so close to a learning environment did puts many at risk, especially the students who are there to study and learn.

Conclusion

I truely believe there should be better ways for our state agencies to manage roadside hawking more better without putting innocent students at risk. Authorities should endeavor and also consider the safety of schools located in busy areas. A more safer environment will help the students focus better on their studies without the very fear of incidents like this happening again.

I don't know if anyone else heard of this, @bessie2023, @jasga and @bossj23 did You all hear of this and what's your thoughts 💭.
^{Thank you all for reading. Stay safe and stay more informed!}