The Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit has arrested 40 individuals for engaging in illegal street trading at night, leading to significant traffic congestion in Ikeja. The arrests were confirmed by the agency’s spokesperson, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, who informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.
The suspects had been operating makeshift shops and restaurants on Alade Avenue, Orishe, and Johnson Streets, all off Obafemi Awolowo Way, causing serious human and vehicular traffic obstructions and environmental pollution. Abdulraheem noted that the two-day night raid was led by the agency’s Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, targeting areas where traders had placed barricades on the roads.
“They have converted streets to mini-markets and restaurants, thereby causing serious human/vehicular traffic obstructions and serious environmental pollution along those routes and adjoining streets,” he said.
The spokesperson emphasized that the suspects also violated environmental laws by indiscriminately disposing of waste and solid materials into the gutters, contributing to flooding issues in the area. He added that the raid would be a continuous exercise aimed at addressing the menace of street trading and its associated problems.
“Some of these locations serve as safe havens for suspected criminals who enjoy the proceeds of their criminal activities there. The flooding experienced in some parts of the state is also due to improper disposal of waste that clogs drainage channels. They also sell drugs indiscriminately there, which is counter-productive to the society,” Abdulraheem stated.
He appealed to other street traders and vendors to relocate to designated trading outlets and vacate the streets and inner roads to ensure the safety and convenience of the public.