The Lagos State Government has stated its readiness to implement the state’s street trading laws and also clamp down on street trading on the state highways and other major streets in Lagos.
This announcement was made by the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, at the Agency’s headquarters in Bolade Oshodi, where he stated the State Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Lagosians while maintaining sanity on the highways.
According to him, “It is no longer news to anyone that the closure of the Eko Bridge was as a result of illegal street trading right under the Bridge that resulted in a fire outbreak and subsequent closure of the Bridge due to safety reasons. Now the Bridge has been reopened, and we will ensure that these street traders do not inflict any more pain on Lagosians.”
The Agency has worked in collaboration with other sister agencies, such as the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), to eliminate the menace of street trading, which impedes free vehicular and pedestrian movement along major routes such as Oshodi, Ketu, and Ajangbadi. This time, all hands will be on deck to guarantee that compliance is recorded throughout the state.
Jejeloye revealed that the strict enforcement exercise, which is set to begin in earnest, is an implementation of a long-standing Lagos State Government enactment on Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law, 2003, which prescribes a punishment of N90,000 or a six-month jail term for both the buyer and seller of any goods or services on the streets.
He condemned the activities of street vendors on highways, which pose major environmental and security concerns due to the criminality that comes with street trading, particularly at night.
“We have made a series of arrests of hawkers in traffic who pose under the guise of selling items in traffic but end up robbing unsuspecting commuters of their valuables in the process. We are out to put a stop to it through this planned exercise,” Jejeloye stated.
The Chairman urged Lagosians to work with the State Government to realize the State’s ambition of Mega City Status, as contained in the State’s THEMES Agenda.
He advised commuters and pedestrians to avoid patronizing street vendors because both the buyer and seller will face harsh penalties when they are caught.
