The Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has announced the creation of a specialised task force dedicated to tackling the persistent issue of street trading.

Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (retd), the Corps Marshal, made the announcement during a stakeholder engagement session with representatives from the Lagos Central Senatorial District.

According to Cole, the new taskforce will actively patrol various parts of Lagos to enforce the state’s strict ban on street trading and hawking, which are prohibited under existing environmental laws.

Cole said this is to restore order and ensure that public spaces are used appropriately.

“Street trading and hawking remain banned, and we are taking significant steps to enforce these laws across every nook and cranny of Lagos,” Cole stated.

He said that in addition to the task force’s operations, LAGESC has been conducting regular enforcement activities, particularly focusing on the state’s pedestrian bridges.

He noted that the efforts have led to the arrest and prosecution of numerous miscreants who had taken over the bridges, deterring their use by the general public.

He said that cleaning up these bridges is part of a broader strategy to reclaim public spaces for the safety and benefit of Lagosians.

He noted the critical role of environmental sanitation in daily life, noting that it is essential for the well-being and livelihood of the community.

Speaking further, the Corps Marshal underscored that the responsibility for maintaining a clean environment does not rest solely with the government alone but is a collective duty that requires the active participation of all citizens.

He said, “A cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos is a goal that can only be achieved with the cooperation of every resident.”