The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced that enforcement operations targeting buyers who patronise illegal roadside traders across the state will commence next week.

Managing Director and CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, issued the warning on Tuesday, revealing that security teams will arrest and prosecute both buyers and sellers operating in unauthorized public spaces.

The crackdown falls under Section 151, subsection 2 of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, which explicitly makes buying from street vendors an offense.

Key Highlights of the Enforcement Plan:

  • Targeted Locations: Roadside spaces, road medians, walkways, drainage setbacks, and other unauthorized areas.

  • Penalties: Convicted offenders face a fine of ₦90,000, up to six months’ imprisonment, or both.

  • Core Rationale: LAWMA emphasizes that street trading creates severe waste accumulation that clogs drainage channels, exacerbates traffic congestion, and poses public health hazards.

  • Long-Term Strategy: By holding buyers accountable, LAWMA aims to eliminate the demand sustaining illegal markets while simultaneously strengthening waste collection services in surrounding communities.