LAWMA to arrest buyers patronising illegal roadside traders

The Lagos state government is set to begin arrest and prosecution of residents who patronise traders selling goods by roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks and other unauthorised public spaces.

This was disclosed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), stating   that the enforcement is scheduled to commence next week.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said enforcement of the law would extend beyond illegal traders to their customers, whom he said were also liable under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017.

Dr. Gbadegesin said this Wednesday at the LAWMA headquarters, saying the measure was part of a renewed strategy to tackle illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal, and obstruction of public infrastructure.

He said the law did not only prohibit the sale of goods in  unauthorised locations but also criminalises the purchase of goods exposed or offered for sale in such prohibited places.

“The law does not only prohibit illegal street trading. It also makes it an offence to buy goods exposed or offered for sale in prohibited places. From next week, anyone found buying from traders operating on roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks or other unauthorised spaces will be arrested, alongside the traders, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.

 He added that anyone convicted of the offence could face a fine of N90,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both, citing Section 151(2) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017.

The LAWMA boss stated that the decision to target buyers was aimed at breaking what he described as the cycle sustaining illegal markets and the environmental problems associated with them.

He said roadside and median markets often became sources of indiscriminate waste disposal, with refuse ending up in drainage channels, roads and other public spaces.