on Monday, July 4, began a clampdown on
street hawkers and traders for violating the
laws of Lagos state.
A young hawker hides at a side of the road to
sell ground nut to passerby. Photo: Emmanuel
Osodi.
The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had
decided to be hard on the sellers following the
destruction of about 49 BRT buses after a
hawker was pursued into it by KAI officers.
An empty street in Ogba area of Lagos on
Monday, July 4. The road used to be filled with
hawkers. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Reports say the hawkers have been alerted
about the new rule and had been told to leave
the streets, which failure to comply attracts a
six-month jail term or N90,000 fine.
A taskforce vehicle parading the street to clear
potential street hawkers and vendors in
accordance with the laws of Lagos state.
Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
NAIJ.com went on the streets to feel the pulse
of some streets and busy roads but there really
few hawkers on the streets with the ones seen
selling at areas where they might be able to
evade arrest.
Another taskforce vehicle being paraded on the
streets of Lagos as the officers go in search of
scapegoats. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
And further reports by Information Nigeria
revealed that some of the hawkers were nabbed
along major routes in Lagos such as Maryland,
Ojota, Ikeja, Oshodi, among others.
The vehicles being used by KAI officials to
arrest street hawkers.
Although the latest resolve by the Lagos state
government is not a new law in the state, many
have condemned the new move as they believe
the governor should have provided options for
the hawkers who will now be displaced since
their sources of income have been taken away
from them.
This woman was still hawking on the streets
despite the directive by the Lagos state
government. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Many are also of the opinion that putting the
traders out of the streets might increase the
spate of robbery in the local areas, which they
believe street trading has helped to reduce.
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