The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), will begin arresting and prosecuting people who buy goods from illegal roadside traders next week.
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin disclosed this at the Authority’s headquarters on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The measure is in accordance with Section 151, Subsection 2 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 and forms part of a renewed enforcement strategy to curb illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal and the obstruction of public infrastructure across Lagos State.
What he is saying
Gbadegesin explained that enforcement would no longer focus only on illegal traders, as people who sustain such activities by purchasing goods from them would also be held accountable under the relevant provisions of the law.
He said the measure was necessary because patronage encourages traders to continue occupying roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks and other unauthorised public spaces.
Gbadegesin said illegal roadside and median markets frequently generate waste that is dumped in drains, on roads and in other public spaces, obstructing drainage channels, worsening traffic conditions and creating risks to public health.
More insight
The Lagos State Government has repeatedly warned traders against operating on walkways and obstructing drainage systems.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said in February 2025 that continued trading on walkways damaged public infrastructure and blocked drainage systems.
LAWMA reaffirmed its commitment to sustained enforcement, stakeholder engagement and improved waste collection services as part of efforts to eliminate open dumping and achieve a cleaner Lagos.
What you should know
The Lagos State Government, in June 2025, cleared illegal street traders from the median of Ojo-Alaba Road in a joint operation by LAGESC and LAWMA, during which three individuals were arrested for obstructing enforcement.
The latest enforcement measure extends the state’s campaign against illegal trading to buyers, with LAWMA warning that those who patronise unauthorized roadside markets will also face the consequences provided under the law.
