A Civil Society Organization under the aegis of Centre for Human & Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has berated the Lagos state government over its alleged anti-masses decision imposing a total ban on street trading and hawking, describing it as draconian and counterproductive.
Addressing a press parley in Lagos on Friday, Comrade Alex Omotehinse the CHSR National President note that the ban is to further pauperize hapless masses.
He cited previous market upgrades as a ploy by government through which traders were indirectly dispossessed of their lots in the market space.
“The hard-working market men and women were dispossessed of their shops by the state government under the disguise of market renovation only to contract such markets to their cronies who built locked-up shops that traders could not afford as a result of exorbitant fee being charged by developers.
“The reasons for the large numbers of street traders in Lagos is traceable to the fact that most of the locked-up shops are beyond the reach of the masses who now resort to street trading and hawking for survival.
Suggesting that regulation of trading activities would have been more appropriate than the total ban, Omotehinse cited overbearing mien of agencies saddled with the responsibility of implementing the directive as a clear misnomer associated with the ban.
“Regulating street trading should be the way to go so as to preserve the livelihoods of overwhelming population which cut across families and communities that embody those who depend on trading activities on daily basis.
“Market closure is an unjust punishment inflicted on the market traders and working people as simultaneous enforcement of total ban on street trading and closure of markets would further aggravate the suffering of the people whose only means of survival is hawking and petty-trading.
It will be recalled that the Lagos state government announced a total ban on street trading, hawking, building of illegal structures on drainage and display of wares on walkways across the state on Friday 29th of September.
Omotehinse gave a trajectory of moves by previous governments which had adverse effect on the traders and also frowned at the mode of implementation of the new directive without the necessary engagement with stakeholders either at the local government or community/grassroots level, citing instances of previous moves which met stiff resistance of the CSO groups.
“Sometimes in 2011, the government of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) established the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) with the mandate to enforce compliance with environmental laws. While the objective was laudable, the agency however degenerated into platform for indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens some of whom were imprisoned without due process.
“In 2016 an incident between KAI officials and a trader resulted in the death of the latter along Ikorodu Road, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, ordered law enforcement agencies to implement the ‘Street Trading Law and Illegal Market Law, 2003.
He hinted that several attempts had been made in the past in this direction but the official announcement by government through the Commissioner of Environment and Water resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, was the height of it as strategic markets were indiscriminately placed under lock and key on waste disposal infraction.
“In a statement credited to the Commissioner of Environment the measure is to curtail the nefarious activities of criminals who disguise as hawkers to rob motorist and also disrupt the free flow of traffic.
“Some elements are hiding under the pretext of street trading and hawking to perpetrate robbery and other nefarious activities in the traffic.
“Our position then still remains that government should find a means of regulating trading rather than outright ban considering the overriding implications on livelihoods of the people who are merely coping with survival under a crushing economic situation and that traders be allowed to freely elect their leaders for proper, transparent and accountable management of the markets.
The CHSR boss faulted the ban on the ground that no alternative means of livelihoods have been considered by the government to support overwhelming majority of the masses, who engaged in menial trading and hawking activities for daily survival.
He however, raised the fear that Government may unwillingly be driving people into criminality by denying a large number of the population their means of livelihoods without a ready alternative they can fall upon.
“While we acknowledge the need for proper waste management in Lagos State, we believe that the closure of these markets is misguided and draconian. It fails to address the core issues that makes street trading and hawking thrive in Lagos State.
“Government should be holding the market leadership to account with regards to incompetence in the management of the market.
“More so, majority of PSP operators have proven themselves to be inefficient and ineffective in dealing with the waste generated by the populace, in spite of the heavy financial burden placed on markets in Lagos State to sustain these operators.
“We maintain that the closure of these markets will inflict further economic hardship not only on the hardworking women and men struggling to earn a living but also on Lagos residents who depend on these markets for procurement of foodstuff and other items.
CHSR urged the Lagos State Government to rescind action on the total ban directive, and also reeled out eight charters of demands which includes; an inclusive stakeholders’ forum on street trading and market operations in Lagos State. Reopening of all market presently sealed by the Lagos state government to alleviate the anguish of traders and Lagos residents. Deploying intelligence mechanisms for crime prevention by strengthening the police to arrest and prosecute offenders.
Also, deployment of advocacy and sensitization mechanizing to address challenges rather than banning and closure of markets. Review of the PSP policy to ensure that traders and marketers are not unduly exploited by developers and the allies in government. The government of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, should reconsider unleashing harsh measures that aggravate poverty and in the alternative empowerment of the less privileged in the society.
Government should allow democratic management of markets and traders’ association through elected representatives for effective service delivery rather than hand-picked lackeys who have so far demonstrated incompetence in ensuring effective sanitation and waste handlings at the markets. Government should put an end to extortion of traders and marketers by security agents as well as personnel of law enforcement agencies in Lagos State.