LASG arrests, set to prosecute 7 illegal traders

By Chioma Joseph, Lagos

Following a joint operation by the Lagos state Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit and the Lagos state Environmental Sanitation Corps over the weekend, seven traders have been arrested and their goods confiscated in order to curb trading activities on set-backs and walkways.  

Disclosing this was the Chairman of the Lagos state Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, who said the activities of illegal traders, hawkers and other environmental nuisances have become an eye-sore, which impede the free flow of traffic around Kodesho Street, Medical Road and Ikeja under bridge towards railway line.

Egbeyemi said the exercise was in line with Section (1) of the Lagos state 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 the seller of any goods or services on all roads across the state.

He said that “despite continuous advocacy, enlightenment and appeals from the government, some illegal traders and hawkers are still of the habit of violating the extant environmental laws of the state by causing disorder and serious environmental infraction on roads through their activities.

“All illegal traders and hawkers must vacate the roads in order to drastically reduce inconveniences to motorists, enhance the sustainability of the environment and protect public infrastructure which are often vandalized by hawkers and street traders.

“The government will no longer tolerate the disregard of law from any quarters, particularly traders who are fond of converting every available space into markets.

“The illegal traders were arrested with different types of goods ranging from fairly used clothes, shoes, belts, fairly used electronics, gas cylinders, mobile phone accessories, amongst many other items that were confiscated by the enforcement team.”

While sending a warning signal to Traders in other parts of the state,  the chairman said “this is a pointer to other locations such as Oyingbo, Bariga, Mushin, Yaba, Orile-Iganmu, Apapa, Ikorodu, Mile 12, Ojota, Ojora, Obalende and Lagos Island where activities of these illegal traders impede the free flow of traffic that it would not be business as usual till zero tolerance is maintained.”

He also warned market union leaders to desist from collecting illegal fees from illegal traders and hawkers. The agency warned owners of illegally built kiosks and containerized shops on road set-backs and walk-ways to remove them immediately or face the wrath of the law.