LASG to clamp down on street traders

The Lagos State Government on Sunday
restated its resolve to stop street trading by fully
enforcing the provisions of the law restricting street
trading in the metropolis.
Olubukola Abe, Chairman of the State Task Force on
Environmental and Other Special Offences
(Enforcement Unit), made this known in Lagos.
He said the new drive was to reduce traffic
congestion on the highways, often caused by the
activities of hawkers.
Abe said that Section 1 of the Street Trading and
Illegal Market Prohibition Law, 2003, restricted
street trading and hawking in the metropolis.
"Section 7 and 8 of the same law gives jurisdiction
and power to the special court to order the seizure
and public auction of items impounded for street
trading.
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"Section 10 of the law prescribes the sum of N5000
as fine or three months imprisonment upon
conviction.
"Our men are prepared to step up enforcement of
the relevant sections of the law,’’ he said and urged
motorists not to encourage their activities by
patronizing them.
Abe said the implication of the violation of the law
was multifaceted.
"Aside from the far reaching implication of street
trading in terms of accidents which in most cases
are fatal, street trading also affects the free flow of
traffic in the metropolis.
"It also contradicts the environmental sanitation
laws by littering our streets with waste generated
from the act.
"We also have had reports of the activities of
persons who pose as beggars, especially in traffic,
but their sole aim is to perpetrate evil.
"We are putting a search light on this trend and one
way to do that is to ensure that we take pre-
emptive measures to forestall this development,"
he said.
Abe, however, urged residents to refrain from
patronising street traders.
He further appealed to residents to be safety
conscious and ensure they sought for spaces in
various markets designated for trading in the state.
- NAN