The Lagos Waste Management Authority has warned of violating environmental law while threatening to arrest such offenders.
The warning was issued on Tuesday as the waste management agency demolished shanties and other illegal structures used by street traders and traffic vendors, along the First and Second Toll Gates, of the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos State.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, condemned in clear terms, the activities of those traders, warning that anyone caught trying to re-assemble the structures would be instantly arrested and prosecuted.
Odumboni emphasized that anyone caught in the act of environmental default particularly street trading will face the wrath of the law.
The comprehensive enforcement exercise, according to the agency, became expedient due to the growing notorious activities and sustained traffic congestion and other environmental nuisance, largely aided by the illegal activities of those vendors.
He said, “We have declared zero tolerance on street trading along the Lekki-Epe Expressway as these activities have led to significant environmental nuisances and traffic congestion. It is our duty to ensure that our city remains clean and habitable for all residents and visitors. Hence, we urge all traders to vacate the expressway immediately and avoid any further environmental infractions”.
The LAWMA boss further appealed to residents to take a new approach on how they treat the environment stressing that there would be stringent penalties for those who continued to disregard the regulations in place.
Odumboni hinted that the crackdown on street trading would be sustained in that axis and extended to others in the metropolis, in line with LAWMAN’s broader mission to improve the overall cleanliness and livability of Lagos.
