The Anambra Government, under the leadership of Gov Willie Obiano, has commenced enforcement of the ban on street trading in urban and semi-urban areas of the state.

The enforcement started with the demolition of what it called illegal edifice creating an obstruction to human and vehicular movement.

Speaking with journalists in Awka on Thursday, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Mike Okonkwo, warned that defaulters are to pay a fine of N10,000, followed by two weeks imprisonment for each offence on conviction.

He said the government enforcement unit drawn from the Ministry of Environment had been briefed on its schedule of duty and urged residents to cooperate with it.

Okonkwo said the team would tackle filthy, obstructive and dirty environment, adding that the targeted cities for operation are major towns such as Onitsha, Ekwulobia and Nnewi.

He also said that government had given the affected roadside traders a long notice to vacate their structures.