The Lagos State Government says it will begin arresting and prosecuting residents who patronise illegal roadside traders from next week.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the authority’s headquarters.
He said the enforcement would be carried out under Section 151(2) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 as part of efforts to tackle illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal and obstruction of public infrastructure.
According to him, enforcement will no longer target only traders operating illegally, but will also extend to their customers.
“The law does not only prohibit illegal street trading. It also makes it an offence to buy goods exposed or offered for sale in prohibited places,” Gbadegesin said.
He warned that anyone caught purchasing goods from traders operating on roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks or other unauthorised spaces would be arrested alongside the traders and prosecuted.
Gbadegesin said offenders could face a fine of N90,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both, upon conviction.
He explained that the policy was designed to break the cycle of illegal trading, noting that traders continue to occupy public spaces because residents patronise them.
According to him, illegal roadside and median markets often generate waste that ends up in drains, roads and other public spaces, thereby worsening flooding, traffic congestion and public health risks.
The LAWMA boss said the authority was also strengthening waste collection in inner streets and communities around previously cleared dumping hotspots, while identified service gaps would be addressed.
He warned that deliberate dumping, redumping and patronage of illegal markets would attract enforcement.
Gbadegesin urged residents and businesses to patronise recognised markets and use approved waste disposal channels, stressing that personal convenience should not be prioritised over public health, road safety, environmental sanitation and the orderly use of Lagos’ shared spaces.
The latest directive is an extension of the state government’s ongoing campaign against illegal street trading and obstruction of public infrastructure. In June 2025, LAWMA and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) cleared illegal traders from the median of Ojo-Alaba Road, with three people arrested during the operation.
The state government has repeatedly warned traders against occupying walkways, medians and other public spaces, particularly where such activities obstruct drainage systems and disrupt traffic.