How governments at the state and local levels have remained taciturn while unscrupulous members of the public convert concrete kerbs, pedestrian walkways and sundry found spaces to makeshift shops and stalls is what has left many law abiding residents troubled as the trend worsens.

Not only are the concerned members of the public imperiled by the consequences of the despicable actions of traders and artisans that perpetrate this anomaly, they rue the resultant traffic congestion and loss of lives through avoidable accidents, they are also peeved by the fact that governments’ agents in some of these locations toll the street traders from where they derive illicit revenue while the affected public infrastructure depreciates.

Yet, Lagos State government through the state Environmental Management and Protection Law is very clear about its un-tolerating stand on trading in unapproved public and open spaces. The prohibition is contained in sections 73, 86 and 87 of the law.

Section 73 (1) dubbed Abuse of Setback on Public Infrastructures, the law stated that notwithstanding any permit given under any law, no person shall –(a) Construct or put any structure on drainage alignment, sewers, rail tracks, footpaths or on the required road or setbacks; 
(b) Use any road, street or other setback as a mechanic workshop or motor park; 
(c) abandonment of any vehicle on highways; (d) Display, sell or buy goods on drainage alignments, roads, rail tracks, bridges and road setbacks; 
and (e) Cook or sell any food on roads, rail tracks, bridges and road setbacks;

Also, Section 86: Prohibition of Street Trading, stated that “As from the commencement of this Law, it is an offence to engage in the unlicensed selling, hawking, marketing, and trading of any items, goods, ware or merchandise of any sort along the major highways and streets of Lagos.”

This is just as Section 87, Prohibition of Illegal Market, insisted that it is an offence to organize, operate, own, use and sell any items, goods, ware or merchandising of any sort except in any recognised or approved market by the state government.”

Despite these vivid provisions in the state law as well as Sections 182 to 200 establishing an agency, Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps to enforce the law, there seems to be unrestrained abuse of the law.

From Iyana-Iba to Igando, Okoko, Trade Fair, First Gate, Mile 2, Ikotun, Second Rainbow, Cele, Orile, Ketu, Egbeda, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, Oyingbo, Iyana-Ipaja bus stops, sellers display items on pedestrian ways, streets and sections of major roads.

At Iyana-Iba, commuters, motorists, hawkers and street traders all compete for the available space leading to slow traffic and cacophony of confusion. The situation is more precarious at Mile 2 and Second Rainbow, Yaba and Oshodi bus stops where sections of the major highway and rail track have been converted into mini markets.

The experience in Egbeda Market, which is at the heart of Alimosho Local Council, is not different. The very obvious negative side effect of roadside trading is largely the inability of pedestrians and motorists to successfully walk or drive on the roads around the market.

As a result, it contributes to the traffic snarl along the corridor, especially during ‘rush hours’ when commercial activities boom.

According to Amaka, a roadside trader at Egbeda market, who recently got displaced from her initial trading spot, no space is permanently owned by a trader.

“I was displaced from my initial spot, because someone was ready to offer a higher rent compared to what I was paying. I usually pay the tout N30, 000 annually for the space but someone else offered him N50, 000 as a result, he allotted the space to someone else. This is because I wasn’t available for a few days. Yet, I couldn’t retrieve my money from him despite I have not used the months I paid for.

“For almost a week I couldn’t display my wares, though I luckily got another spot for N40, 000. There is no receipt for the payment, you only have to identify the person who collected money from you and he protects you from being displaced, except if he wants to allocate it to any other person.”

Amaka revealed that aside the annual payment, each trader is expected to pay N100 daily ticket to the agbero, N200 local council weekly ticket and N300 to Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials weekly.

Another trader, Alice, who sells footwear, said: “Don’t let any one swindle you, there is no more space available in this area. This place is hot cake. Anyone who tells you there is a space will only eat your money. I paid N30, 000 to acquire this place with the aid of my friend who also sells here.”

Similarly, walkways and the streets around Bolade, Oshodi has been converted to trading spots with items ranging from clothes, dresses, shoes among others being offered for sale. It was also learnt that touts allocate the space to each of the traders at N100 daily fee.

At Shogunle, enroute Oshodi, wares, sands among others were spread on the walkway as if that was the purpose for creating the footpath.

As a result of the roadside traders, pedestrians were forced to walk competing with vehicles for movement. Some of the traders said they have the right to trade at the different spots because aside renting a shop in Oshodi is expensive, they daily pay to the government for the spaces through its agents and touts.

A commercial bus driver, Hamburger, who operates on the Oshodi to Apapa Wharf routes but picks passages on Ariyibi Oke Street, Oshodi, said that commercial drivers have complained bitterly about the menace of street traders, but are helpless, because there is nothing they can do to keep them off the street.

Although he did not see anything wrong in he and his other commercial bus drivers turning a street to a motor park, he said: “We have complained of their act because their wares are usually very close to the road. We struggle with them each time we want to turn our vehicle. The worst is that they are occupying both sides of the walkway and only God will help you to destroy any of the wares displayed on the road.”

A commercial tri-cyclist, Emmanuel Samuel, said that tricycle operators are in constant battle with street traders for space. “And if by mistake, one damage any of the traders’ goods, be rest assure that you may have ended the day’s business.

Uche James sells melon and palm oil among other items on Ariyibi Oke Street, Oshodi, Lagos. He disclosed that he pays N100 daily to someone who claims to be representative of the local council.

Just like Hamburger, James also felt that commercial tri-cyclists and bus drivers should not be competing with street traders on the street. He said that transporters should be operating from a dedicated park and not on the street.

He said he has been trading on the street because he does not have the fund to rent a shop. “To rent a shop requires some amount of money and that I don’t have now. Who doesn’t like a shop, everybody likes to stay in a shop, but when you don’t have the money to rent a shop what can you do other than to come to a busy place like this, where people can see what you are selling and patronise you. For me, this is where I can make small money to feed my family.”

The Corps Marshal of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) popularly known as KAI, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd) said her agency during the week embarked on syndicated raids across strategic flash points harbouring clusters of street traders, hawkers displaying their wares for sale in different parts of Lagos.

She said: “Street trading on roadsides, pedestrian bridges setbacks, medians and hawking on major highways, in traffic constitutes a violation of the state environmental laws which established the illegality of these acts. And we are determined to clamp down heavily on these environmental defaulters.”

Akinpelu vowed that the Agency’s enforcement drive would be tremendously consolidated upon, adding that there is no hiding place for street traders, hawkers in the state.

“The Lagos metropolis has witnessed a dangerous trend of environmental abuse, judging by the illegal activities of street traders on our roads, major highways which does not only impede human and vehicular movement but constitute criminal tendencies on motorists and pedestrians who fear for their safety after a hard day’s work.”

Akinpelu revealed that the agency’s Special Squad embarked on dislodgement of street traders constituting environmental nuisances to the well-being of Lagos residents in different parts of the state such as Lagos lsland under the Apongbon Bridge, outter Marina, Victoria Island, Falomo area, Alfred Rewane Road, NNPC Estate, lkoyi plaza, Falomo and other adjoining areas.

“Also, the Special Squad in the course of routine monitoring embarked on strategic advocacy for voluntary compliance, issued enforcement warnings for non-compliance and effected arrests of recalcitrant traders.

The Corps Marshal said that the ongoing enforcement against hawkers, street traders will be consolidated on a daily basis, as cleared areas remain sustained by operatives spread across operational commands in the state.