Enforcement Of Ban On Hawking In Lagos Starts Today

Lagos—Following the directive by Governor,
Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on the
enforcement of Law against hawking in the
state, most streets and highways at the weekend
seemed deserted by traders for fear of being
arrested.
This came as the Lagos State Taskforce on
Environment and Special Offences, vowed to
commence a total enforcement on street trading
across the state as directed by the governor
today.
Ambode at the weekend, directed law
enforcement agencies to commence a total
enforcement against street trading and street
hawkers from July 1, 2016, saying that the law
banning their activities across the metropolis
would take its full course.
The governor, speaking at a live interview, said
that the renewed enforcement is in line with
Section I of the Lagos State Street Trading and
Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which
restricts street trading and hawking in the
metropolis.
However, observations over the weekend showed
that quite a number of the traders deserted
major highways, but have employed other means
of hawking their wares.
In Oshodi, Egbeda, Ikeja, Ikotun, Ojo, among other
areas of the state, few street hawkers were seen
on the road but with vigilance.
It was gathered that most of the traders who
were complaining bitterly against the law,
accused the state government of planning to ruin
their sources of living and thereby take to crime.
One of the street traders, simply identified as
Uche, who spoke to Vanguard at Egbeda area,
said he has no other trade than selling
handkerchiefs and confessionary which he had
engaged in for the past six years since he
finished his Ordinary National Diploma, OND,
from a Polytechnic.
He explained that in order to avoid arrest, they
have come up with a new trend of keeping their
wares in a hidden place, while they display only
few for sale.
“By this means the law enforcement agents can
not easily detect or see us to arrest. More so, it
will be easier for us to escape when the chips
are down.
Meanwhile the Public Affairs Officer of the
taskforce, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, when contacted on
the number of suspects arrested so far since the
announcement by the governor, said, “Honestly,
we are yet to make any arrest, but as from
tomorrow (today), the taskforce unit, to be led
by its Chairman, Superintendent of Police,
Olayinka Egbeyemi, with other security outfits
and men of the Kick Against Indiscipline, will
launch a total enforcement across the metropolis
and y one caught in the process shall be
prosecuted accordingly.”
Governor Ambode, while sympathizing with the
family of a street hawker who was knocked down
by an articulated truck in the process of evading
arrest from officials of Kick Against Indiscipline
(KAI) along Maryland Bus stop last Wednesday,
regretted that the situation led to the death and
destruction of public assets.
Consequently, Ambode said the state Executive
Council has resolved to enforce the Law, which
according to him makes both the hawker and the
buyer liable of the offence.