Lagos taskforce to clamp down on street traders

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The Lagos State Taskforce says it is set to clamp down on street traders and support other sister agencies of the state in the enforcement of the total ban on street trading in the state.

According to the Chairman of the Agency, Mr Shola Jejeloye, this is in furtherance of the Lagos State Government’s commitment to stamping out street trading on the highways and other major streets in the metropolis.

He made this known at the Headquarters, Bolade Oshodi where he made known the stand of the state government in guaranteeing the safety and security of Lagosians while maintaining sanity on the highways.

“It is no longer news to anyone that the closure of the Eko Bridge was 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,” he said.

Collaborative efforts and joint operations have been carried out by the agency and other sister agencies like Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) in eradicating the menace of street trading that impedes free vehicular and pedestrian movement along major routes like Oshodi, Ketu and Ajangbadi. All hands will be on deck this time to ensure that compliance is recorded statewide.

Jejeloye disclosed that the strict enforcement exercise which is to commence in earnest is an implementation of a long-existing enactment by the Lagos State Government 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 the seller of any goods or services on the streets.

He decried the activities of street traders on the highways which poses serious environmental and security concerns as a result of the criminality that goes hand in hand with street trading, especially 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 appealed to Lagosians to collaborate with the state government in achieving the vision of Mega City status as enshrined in the THEMES Agenda of the state.

He urged commuters and pedestrians alike to refrain from patronising street traders as a stiff punishment awaits both the buyer and the seller once apprehended.

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