Photo caption: Lagos State Government logo
At least 10 individuals have been arrested by officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps around the Alaba Rago–Ojo area of the Lagos-Badagry Motorway for alleged street trading and environmental violations.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed the arrests in a post shared on his X.com page on Monday.
Wahab emphasised the government’s unwavering stance on the enforcement of environmental laws.
“Our joint enforcement teams from KAI and LAWMA commenced clearance operations along Ojo–Alaba Road and the Badagry Motorway.
“Waste evacuation is actively ongoing, and 10 arrests have been made so far for environmental violations,” he wrote.
He warned that the state would not hesitate to prosecute anyone found dumping waste indiscriminately or violating sanitation rules.
“Let it be known: dumping waste indiscriminately, defacing our environment, and ignoring the state’s sanitation laws will not be tolerated. Enforcement is in full swing, and we will continue until compliance becomes a part of culture,” Wahab stated.
In a related development, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Kunle Adeshina, announced intensified efforts to curb street trading across Lagos.
“In the same vein, massive evacuation of the debris and waste generated by the dislodged street traders is being intensified by LAWMA through the deployment of trucks that are making several rounds,” Adeshina said in a separate post on Monday.
The Lagos State Government had previously imposed a total ban on street trading, hawking, the construction of illegal structures on drainage channels, and the display of goods on walkways.
The ban, introduced in 2023, aims to address growing concerns over traffic congestion and crimes reportedly perpetrated by some hawkers who disguise themselves to rob motorists.
Since the enforcement began, hundreds of violators have been apprehended.
Just last Saturday, 36 street traders, including 34 men and two women, were arrested for displaying goods on road medians along Ojo–Alaba Road.
