The report begins.....
Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital is filled with street hawkers. The hawkers take advantage of the city's congested roads to sell a wide range of household items to motorists stuck in the traffick jam.
But following the recent killing of a street hawker by a car, the government has now introducced new laws designed to bring to an end the practice.Those who break it, risk up to six months in prison.
Normally, the hawkers move between vehicles caught up in traffic jam and hold up their items to motorists. This way, the street traders make quick money selling off their goods to travellers. A typical traffic jam in Lagos could last for several hours and withe sweltering heat comes the need for refreshments like, water and food.
Some of Lagos' main roads are considered the best 'mini markets' in town. These street hawkers compete for space with motorists. However, this about to change as the Lagos state government has threatened jail terms for those buying or selling on its highways.
"We don't want traders on our roads anymore," said Babatunde Adejare, the State commissioner for the environment for Lagos. "They help in contributing to bringing traffic gridlock to our roads and we don't want that. That will lead to wastage of man hours, wastage of money, time and things like that," he added.
Despite threats of imprisonment, hawkers are still on the streets. Often, they run after moving vehicles, which lead to severe accidents. "We have no other alternative, no other way for us to trade," said Austin Akpa, a street hawker.
"We don't have money to pay for shops, which is why we are on the streets. I have to come to the road and sell so that I can make a living. I have two daughters at home right now. It's true that it is dangerous to sell on the road, but what can I do? Nothing! So I just have to take the risk," Akpa added.
Lagos, Nigeria's largest City has more than eight million inhabitants and has high levels of noise pollution
Hawkers go underground
As a result of the ban, many street hawkers went underground. They hide their goods from officers, who often patrol the roads. But ordinary Nigerians sympathize with the traders. Some argue it is counterproductive given the large number of people making living from the streets.
"If you remove these people from the roads, you have put their source of livelihood in jeopardy," Ayodele Ojo, a Lagos resident, argued. "Water will of course always find its level. If they are not allowed on the streets anymore and are banned from selling anywhere at all, chances are some of them might get involve into bad things. Some might just go ahead and start pick pocketing," he said.
Lagos authorities have for several years battled without success to curb street trading. Rising unemployment and the determination of many unemployed youths to make a living hawking on the streets makes it extremely difficult to permanently send the hawkers off the streets.
culled m.dw.com
Odiro possible, infact the number will increase now.
ReplyDeleteLagos State govt should strictly and fiercely enforce this law. Africa cannot continue to lag behind and remain in the 18th century in this day and age. We must develop.There are no Street traders in NY City. And most of these Street traders are the people wey dey make mouth say na them get Lagos.
ReplyDeleteIf they cannot afford a legal shop, they should all return to their respective under developed States (which is not Lagos of course) and make mouth with their true States of origin.
This will ultimately reduce the congestion in Lagos.
Who is this impersonator?This is not the James we know biko!
DeleteGo and give James Bomb back his ID. This can't be James!!! Abi another James Don join the blog?
DeleteGod bless u for this comment. Imagine how shocked I was yday when I found out how many tourist centers we have in each state and they r no longer functional. State governments should develop their states and ppl wont leave there to go congest other states. Nigeria needs to develop.
DeleteHahahaha bipolar James
DeleteHe copied and pasted this.
DeleteThere's no way the way the James I hate will come up with this.bloody impostor, abi James you don dey attend evening school like I advised you to
DeleteRolex Chic, are you kidding me? Copied from where? I am a moving encyclopedia
DeleteBravo, James!
DeleteThat law may not work in some areas. I still buy in traffic.
ReplyDeleteRemove means of livelihood or remove LIFE...which one is better? Nigerians and unnecessary sentiments over the simplest things
ReplyDeleteThe problem with our leaders is they don't think through some of their actions. What alternative means of livelihood did they provide for the street traders. Let them do de important things first, then all these will be jara. God bless Nigeria and de citizens
ReplyDeleteStreet hawkers saving lives since 1900
ReplyDeleteSo I no go fit drink bottle water for traffic again
You don't just stop them without providing an alternative. Cus that would only result to increase in crime, they have to survive.
ReplyDeletePut a total stop to street trading and save a life. It's even an eyes sore.
ReplyDeleteNa wa. I will see what i will buy on Akpongbon bridge
ReplyDeleteIs better Street hawking is a maniac that should be eradicated completely
ReplyDeleteAmbode came into existence to meet street hawking. Which kind law be dis sef? What does he want those boys to do? Carry gun and enter streets? This ppl don't think at all
ReplyDeleteHe should provide an alternative. They dont provide plan B when phasing out plan A in this country, why?
ReplyDeleteStop the street hawking but create an alternative for them to survive. You just can't wake up one morning and decide to end so many people's means of livelihood.
ReplyDeleteI know of a student in uniLagos who came on weekends and evenings to hawk gala and la casera. He would put his stuff in my shop, because when I heard his story, my heart went to him. He would hawk during holidays and when school was on strike. His determination to succeed was written all over him until he graduated. He did not go begging or stealing. Street trading has been saving many lives in Nigeria, even the buyers. There was day people were stuck in traffic for over 5 hours because of the container that fell. It was hawkers that helped many people especially those with children at night. Eradicate poverty and have infrastructuresome on ground, street trading will reduce, but can never be stopped.
ReplyDeleteI sympathize with these hawkers seriously, yea I know it is a risky thing to do and it contributes to bad image of the state but for crying out loud there should be an alternative for these thriving populates..
ReplyDeleteStella,will they allow Street trading in Germany? They should shut the he'll up! Must the street traders live in Lagos? What is bad, is bad pls.
ReplyDeleteI don't hawk on d str but I sell to them so banning them will not only affect them but also my family cos that's what my family has been managing since I and my husband lost our mouthwatering white collar jobs. I hope ambode is ready for the consequence of this ban securitywise
ReplyDeleteThey want to ban street hawking? They said they've provided alternative e.g tejuosho market but to get a shop there is like buying a plot of land at agbara yet they want to ban street hawking.
ReplyDeleteWhy not reduce the shop rent and stop taking agent and agreement fee so people can get shops easily and stop street hawking?
What kind of trash are people saying? So the only way of earning a living is now street hawking abi? Not just hawking, hawking on the highway. Think outside the box there are a million and one ways to earn a living. Who even says it's only in Lagos you can make it? The Lagos that I even dislike with passion.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of trash are people saying? So the only way of earning a living is now street hawking abi? Not just hawking, hawking on the highway. Think outside the box there are a million and one ways to earn a living. Who even says it's only in Lagos you can make it? The Lagos that I even dislike with passion.
ReplyDelete