The Lagos State Government on Friday said that from July 1,
2016, it would commence a total enforcement against street trading and street
hawkers, saying that the law banning their activities across the metropolis
would take its full course.
Speaking at a live interview session on Television
Continental, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said that the renewed
enforcement is in line with Section One of the Lagos State Street Trading and
Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003 which restricts street trading and hawking
in the metropolis.
The Governor, while sympathizing with the family of a street
hawker who was knocked down by an articulated truck while trying to evade
arrest from officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) along Maryland Bus
stop on Wednesday, regretted that the situation led to the destruction of public
assets.
“It is not in our DNA to allow someone to just die by road
accident or the way it happened in respect of the incident. But beyond the fact
that we lost one person while crossing the road as a result of evading arrest
by KAI officials, I need to tell Lagosians that over 49 buses were actually
destroyed and it is costing us like almost N139 million to put those buses back
on the road,” he said.
Consequently, Governor Ambode said the State Executive
Council has resolved to enforce the Law, which according to him makes both the
hawker and the buyer liable of the offence.
"The issue is we need to enforce our laws because we already
have a law in respect of that and then there is a clause in it which says the
buyer and the seller are both liable and that we are going to fine them either
N90, 000 or a six month jail term.
"What we are doing on traffic is that we are introducing new
strategies to eliminate traffic but Lagos being a cosmopolitan city, you cannot
totally eliminate it but now this is the case, in the next few days, you will
see on the street of Lagos signs that will be warning you that buyers and
hawkers should be aware that there are consequences," Governor Ambode said.
He said his administration has also concluded plans to roll
out a massive campaign which would warn both motorists and hawkers of the
restrictions and the penalty for defaulters.
"We will be watching out for buyers and sellers and all we
need is just scapegoat. Don’t buy plantain chips or any other item in traffic
from July 1, buyers beware," Governor Ambode warned.
He said aside the environmental hazards associated with the
activities of street traders and hawkers alike, they also pose great security
and health risks.
"A whole lot of people who are hawkers, when you check them,
I understand from intelligence that there is a cartel. Some people buy fake
products and then bring the products in and then give these boys to sell on the
street and come back to make returns in the night. So, what I want to advise
Lagosians is that most times when you think you are buying something of quality
on the road, be rest assured that those things are fake product," Governor
Ambode said.
He however said that much as the State Government intends to
be civil in enforcing the law, some recalcitrant persons try to subvert the
process, hence the need to ensure total compliance with the law.
Asked what plans the Government has unemployed graduates who
have taken to street hawking, Governor Ambode said that his administration has
launched a N25billion Employment Trust Fund, urging them to access the fund.
Governor Ambode while answering questions on future plans of
his administration assured that greater attention would be given to the health
and education sectors, while empowerment for the youth and elderly would also
get the needed attention.
"In the last eight years, while the immediate past Governor
actually did a lot to improve on health, you will also see that what he
provided is not even enough to cater for all the people coming into Lagos.
"Now, this second year, I can tell you freely that we are
facing majorly the health sector, education sector, the issue of elderly people
and then the youths. We believe that in the next twelve months which we are
starting from now, you will see a major escalation of the quality of the
facilities we are going to provide in our hospitals," the Governor said.
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