Lagos plans to detain customers of illegal street vendors
In Lagos, Nigeria, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) said it will begin detaining not only illegal street vendors but also people who buy goods from them next week. This was reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
According to the agency, the measures will apply to vendors operating on roadsides, medians, sidewalks, building setbacks and other unauthorized public places. LAWMA Director of Public Affairs Mukaila Sanusi shared a statement citing the agency's Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin.
Penalties for buying goods
Gbadegesin noted that the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017 prohibits not only trading in unauthorized locations but also purchasing goods displayed for sale there. According to him, buyers and sellers will be detained and held accountable in accordance with the law.
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In the event of a conviction, the penalty may include a fine of 90,000 naira, six months' imprisonment, or both sanctions. LAWMA explained that the decision is aimed at combating illegal trading, improper waste disposal and obstruction of the use of public infrastructure.
Waste control
The head of LAWMA said that trading on roadsides and medians is often accompanied by dumping waste into drainage channels, onto roads and in other public places. According to the agency, this contributes to blocked drainage, traffic congestion and public health risks.
The agency also reported that inspections related to illegal waste disposal are continuing. LAWMA recently suspended some street cleaners, their supervisors and a contractor company over alleged dumping of rubbish on the median along the Oworonshoki-Berger route. Separately, officials detained two men on suspicion of violating environmental rules: one was allegedly caught dumping rubbish from a wheelbarrow, while the other is suspected of unauthorized waste collection.
