The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced a strict enforcement crackdown starting next week, targeting not just illegal street vendors, but also anyone caught buying goods from them.
Under a renewed strategy to combat environmental degradation, illegal roadside trading, and traffic gridlock, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin LAWMA Managing Director and CEO, stated that customers fueling these operations will face immediate arrest and prosecution alongside the traders.
The crackdown is backed by Section 151, Subsection 2 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, which explicitly prohibits both the exposure of goods for sale in unauthorised locations and the act of purchasing items from those spots.
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Prohibited Zones: Roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks, and other unauthorised public spaces.
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The Penalties: Convicted offenders, both buyers and sellers, face a fine of ₦90,000, a jail term of six months, or both.
Gbadegesin emphasised that illegal roadside and median markets are a primary source of blocked drainage channels and environmental hazards, as vendors frequently dump refuse directly onto roads and into gutters.
By penalising customers, LAWMA aims to cut off the demand that keeps informal markets anchored to public infrastructure. “Traders occupy public spaces because people continue to patronise them. Buyers must understand that their actions sustain the problem,” Gbadegesin explained.
To complement the enforcement, LAWMA is simultaneously working to optimise waste collection across inner streets and surrounding communities. The agency is urging residents to utilise approved waste management channels and patronise recognised physical markets rather than compromising public safety and city sanitation for personal convenience.
