Lagos Government threatens to arrest, prosecute roadside traders

The Lagos State Task Force has warned traders along Oshodi Road who display their wares indiscriminately on the walkways that they will be arrested.

The agency’s Chairman, Shola Jejeloye, revealed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Press and Public Affairs, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.

Jejeloye stated that traders and commercial vehicle owners had been warned earlier in the year, despite the government’s provision of a marketplace, shopping plaza, and Nigerian Army shopping arena.

He said, “We carried out an enforcement exercise on March 9 this year where some goods were seized from the traders and vehicles were impounded from some commercial bus drivers but we had compassion on the traders and some drivers, who had purchased some of the goods through soft loans with the promise that they would not return to the roadside again.

“Unfortunately, we can see that they are fully back on the road, but this time, anyone who is caught displaying goods by the roadside will be arrested and prosecuted by the agency.

“Commercial vehicle operators who are known to be unruly and have total disregard for road traffic rules will henceforth be arrested and have their vehicles impounded if they do not turn over a new leaf.”