THE Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) has embarked on the dislodgement of recalcitrant traders along the ever-busy Ikorodu Road, Mile 12 in Kosofe Local Government Area.
This was part of efforts by the government to clear the State of all environmental nuisances and other infractions, such as street trading on walkways/setbacks of major highways, which impedes free vehicular movement on the roads.
Speaking on the operation, the Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (rtd), said the exercise was carried out by the Special Squad of the Agency to clear out street traders selling food items in the mid-section of the road in order to ensure free vehicular movement and also enhance ongoing construction work on the axis.
According to her: “The Mile 12 International Market is large enough to accommodate all traders, as such, it is not only wrong for some traders to engage in street trading but it is against the law of the State and the Agency would not spare anyone in its bid to clear all environmental infractions.”
While warning motorists to desist from patronising street traders and hawkers, the Corps Marshal insisted that roads should be free of all obstructions, adding that the amended Environmental Laws of 2017 in Lagos State empowers LAGESC to prosecute anyone caught contravening the law.
Akinpelu reiterated that street trading and hawking are prohibited and the dislodgement exercise would be a continuous one in line with the directives of the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo Olu, to ensure that all nooks and crannies of the state are free of traffic gridlocks while a cleaner, hygienic and aesthetically pleasing environment is maintained.
