By Femi Akinola
Operatives of the Special Squad from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI/LAGESC) under the purview of the Lagos State Government has conducted a significant operation dispersing numerous street traders and hawkers along the bustling Lagos-Ikorodu road, targeting not only those on foot but also those employing wheelbarrows to exhibit their merchandise.
The decisive move conducted at the weekend, confiscated both the goods and the wheelbarrows of the street traders.
NatureNews confirms that the apprehended traders were subsequently transported to the KAI/LAGESC headquarters at Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, for legal proceedings at the Mobile Court, aligning with the stringent State Environmental Laws.
A senior officer from the KAI, who preferred anonymity due to not being the designated spokesperson for matters pertaining to the enforcement of State Environmental Laws, clarified that this recent crackdown on street trading in Lagos State is part of an ongoing and sustained effort.
It is worth noting that the Lagos State Government had declared a zero-tolerance stance against street trading in all forms across the state towards the end of the previous year.
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Omobolaji Gaji, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Environmental Services in the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, declared this zero-tolerance policy following the issuance of abatement notices. Property owners and residents were urged to procure adequate waste bins for their homes.
Gaji emphasized that the government’s commitment to eradicating street trading aligns with the THEMES agenda of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The goal is to foster a cleaner and more aesthetically pleasing environment, enforce the State Environmental Laws comprehensively, and create a safer and cleaner state for all Lagos residents.
While street trading has become ingrained in the fabric of life in Lagos metropolis, it has also been a source of concern. Street traders, often young men and women, can be observed exhibiting their goods at bus stops, on pedestrian bridges, and along state and federal roads.
Their practices, especially obstructing traffic flow and disturbing pedestrians on bridges, contribute significantly to environmental degradation.
Additionally, street traders have been associated with the city’s less-than-favorable reputation for cleanliness.
Moreover, investigations have uncovered links between certain street traders and criminal activities in Lagos.
