On Friday, January 5, the Lagos State government took stringent action by seizing goods displayed by traders along major highways. A video circulating online captured the intense moment when traders pleaded for mercy as their goods was being confiscated. The crackdown was executed by special operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).
The operation targeted street traders operating on various key routes including Agege Motor road, Old Secretariat GRA Ikeja, Awolowo way, Alausa Secretariat, Agidingbi Jakande road inward LTV 8, Ojodu Berger, and Fagba road. The Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized the necessity of the enforcement. In his words; ”We cannot be emotional about enforcement. We have severally warned that traders should desist from displaying or selling things on the walkway, setbacks or main road. It defaces the city and majorly for people’s safety. Early Friday, Special operatives of KAI/LAGESC again dislodged street traders operating on Agege Motor road, Old Secretariat GRA Ikeja, Awolowo way, Alausa Secretariat, Agidingbi Jakande road inward LTV 8, Ojodu Berger, Fagba road.” See below;