A cleaner Lagos at huge cost to street traders, hawkers

THE vision of a cleaner Lagos State is an aspiration held dear by all Lagosians. We all seek a healthier, safer, and more aesthetically pleasing environment. Yet, this pursuit should never come at the cost of annihilating the livelihoods of the street traders and hawkers, who are an integral part of the city’s economic fabric.  They too yearn for a cleaner Lagos, but due to their marginalized status in the society, they have turned to street trading and hawking as their means of survival. A recent survey by A. Oyedokun, a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile- Ife and a friend of mine has highlighted their substantial contributions to the Lagos State’s economy.  Street traders and hawkers represent a vital but often marginalized segment of Lagos society. For many, street trading and hawking are not choices made out of preference but rather the only available options to earn a living.

The reality is that they yearn for dignified livelihoods but face severe limitations in their quest for economic security. They are not the problem but the symptom of deeper socioeconomic issues that call for empathy, understanding, and innovative solutions. About 65 percent of the working population in Lagos State works in the informal sector, and they account for approximately 42 percent of business activities in Lagos. In a way, this underscored the significant economic contribution of street traders and hawkers in Lagos State. They are not just small-time vendors; they play a pivotal role in keeping the wheels of Lagos’ economy turning. By providing essential goods and services to the vast population of the city, they stimulate economic activities, foster local entrepreneurship, and contribute to a thriving marketplace that benefits us all. To balance the need for cleanliness with the preservation of livelihoods, Lagos State should consider multi-faceted approaches like allocate specific areas within the city for street trading and hawking.  These zones should be equipped with basic amenities and regulated to ensure the safety, cleanliness, and organization of these spaces, implement educational programs that emphasize sustainable practices in street trading and hawking.

By providing vendors with knowledge on waste management and hygiene, we can empower them to play a more active role in achieving a cleaner Lagos. There must be the creation of initiatives that offer street traders and hawkers access to micro loans, financial literacy training, and business support. This assistance will enable them to improve the quality of their goods and services and adopt more sustainable practices while establish a collaborative approach involving street traders, hawkers, local communities, and government agencies. Engaging these stakeholders will ensure that policies and decisions are inclusive, respecting the rights and dignity of all residents. Reinvesting and reinventing street trading and hawking is more than just a means of achieving a cleaner Lagos. It is a potent way to uplift the poorest strata of our society, offering them a chance at prosperity and dignity. These informal economic activities serve as pathways out of abject poverty and into the means of plenty.

The pursuit of a cleaner Lagos is commendable and necessary, but it should never be at the expense of the livelihoods of street traders and hawkers who are vital to our economy. It is time to adopt a more compassionate and inclusive approach that not only ensures a cleaner environment but also empowers the most vulnerable among us. By reinvesting and reinventing street trading and hawking, we can uplift countless lives and work towards a brighter and more prosperous future for Lagos State—a future that leaves no one behind.

• Oshunfurewa, a social activist, writes in from Lagos