LAWMA: 13 Lagos Street Traders Arrested in Enforcement Drive

• LAWMA arrested 13 street traders in Festac and Mile 2 on October 12 for operating in unauthorised public spaces.
• Another enforcement operation was conducted in Ikorodu on October 13 by LAWMA, KAI, and police, though specific arrest numbers were not disclosed.
• Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA's Managing Director, stated the operations aim to clear public spaces and prevent obstruction.
• The authority warned that enforcement against unauthorised trading will continue, urging traders to use approved markets.
• LAWMA attributes unauthorised street trading to illegal dumping and environmental nuisance, undermining public cleanliness efforts.

Public roads and walkways must remain clear and accessible. We will sustain enforcement against unauthorised trading. We urge traders and residents to use approved markets.

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) recently conducted an enforcement drive, leading to the apprehension of at least 13 individuals engaged in street trading across various public spaces in Lagos. These operations, part of a broader state-wide clampdown on unauthorised trading, saw LAWMA officials target areas known for such activities. On Monday, October 12, thirteen traders were taken into custody following an operation in Festac and Mile 2. Those arrested in these locations include Joy Opeyemi, Abigail Manga, Chinasa Eze, Saika Taira, AbdulRasheed Elinu, Charles Nwango, Mustapha Abubakar, Aliyu Garba, Kazinu Umar, Moses Idara, Ahmed Yinusa, Yusuf Usman, and Amaka Chukunju.

A subsequent enforcement action was carried out on Tuesday, October 13, in Ikorodu. This particular operation involved LAWMA’s specialized Project WISE team, working in collaboration with officials from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and members of the police force. While the authority confirmed the Ikorodu operation, it did not disclose the precise number of individuals apprehended during this specific sweep, nor did it specify if any charges had been filed against those detained in either location. This series of actions underscores the Lagos Waste Management Authority enforcement efforts aimed at reclaiming public areas.

Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, issued a statement, obtained on Thursday, outlining the rationale behind these enforcement activities. According to Gbadegesin, the primary objective of these operations is to clear public spaces of unauthorised trading, thereby preventing traders from obstructing critical infrastructure such as roads, walkways, medians, and road setbacks. He explicitly warned that the intensified enforcement against unauthorised trading would be sustained, urging all traders to restrict their commercial activities exclusively to designated, approved markets.

Gbadegesin reiterated the importance of maintaining clear and accessible public thoroughfares, stating, "Public roads and walkways must remain clear and accessible. We will sustain enforcement against unauthorised trading. We urge traders and residents to use approved markets." LAWMA further elaborated that unauthorised street trading significantly contributes to several environmental nuisances, including illegal dumping of waste and general obstruction, which ultimately undermine the state's broader efforts to ensure public spaces remain clean and easily navigable for all citizens. This perspective highlights the street trading regulations Lagos aims to uphold.

The recent arrests and LAWMA’s firm stance signal a continued and rigorous approach to regulating informal trade within Lagos. The authority has indicated its intention to maintain consistent monitoring following these operations, specifically to deter traders from re-establishing their activities in the affected areas. This sustained vigilance means that individuals engaged in unauthorised trading Lagos face an elevated risk of apprehension and potential legal consequences.

For informal traders, particularly those operating outside sanctioned market environments, the message from LAWMA is clear: adherence to public space regulations is mandatory. The ongoing enforcement, spearheaded by Muyiwa Gbadegesin LAWMA, emphasizes the necessity for businesses to operate within the established legal framework to avoid disruption, arrest, and potential charges. This development underscores the importance for all stakeholders to understand and comply with the state's directives regarding the use of public spaces for commercial activities.

Lawyers advising clients involved in retail or informal trade in Lagos should be aware of LAWMA's intensified enforcement against street trading, which carries a risk of arrest and potential charges for non-compliance with public space regulations. This necessitates advising clients to operate only in approved markets to avoid legal repercussions.

Source: Original reporting via The PUNCH