LAGESC DECLARES TOTAL CLAMPDOWN ON STREET TRADING, ALCOHOL SALES AT PARKS, GARAGES IN LAGOS
As part of renewed efforts geared to rid the Lagos metropolis of street trading, hawking on roadsides, setbacks, medians, major highways, parks and garages, the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has reiterated its readiness to clamp down on environmental defaulters and sustain its ongoing enforcement operations in the State.
Corps Marshal of the Agency, CP Gbemisola Akinpelu (retd), who disclosed this in a statement recently, added that street trading on roadsides, pedestrian bridges, setbacks, medians and hawking on major highways constitutes a violation of the State environmental laws which has established the illegality of these acts.
Expressing the determination of the Agency to clamp down on all environmental defaulters, especially those displaying alcohol for sale in Lagos parks and garages, Akinpelu vowed that the LAGESC enforcement drive would be consolidated, adding that there is no hiding place for street traders, hawkers in the State.
She also remarked that the ongoing enforcement against hawkers of alcohol in the State’s garages and parks has been positive, stating that the Agency has made numerous arrests, just as it was able to secure the arraignments and sentences of suspects by the courts.
Admonishing street traders and hawkers to steer clear of Lagos roads, the Corps Marshal issued directives to the Agency’s Special Squad to increase the enforcement drive by apprehending defaulters for arraignment on a daily basis and their seized wares be placed in the Agency’s storage facility.
She further revealed that the State Environmental laws provide for the onward distribution of seized perishable goods to orphanage homes on a daily basis and non-perishables be kept in storage until a court order is secured for public auction whilst generated proceeds are remitted to the state coffers.
Akinpelu also highlighted the continuous need for pedestrians to use strategically-erected pedestrian bridges across major highways in the State to avoid being knocked down by over-speeding motorists.