Lagos Task Force Jails 21 for Street Trading, Illegal Bus Stops and Road Obstruction

The Lagos State Task Force has announced the conviction of 21 offenders arrested for street trading, operating illegal bus stops, engaging in unauthorized ticketing, and obstructing public roads across parts of the state.

The culprits were sentenced to a combined 44 months of community service by a mobile court, following a coordinated clean-up operation carried out in the Iyana-Iba and Ojo areas of Lagos.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency’s spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyan, said the exercise was aimed at restoring order by clearing traders and transport operators who had converted major roads and pedestrian walkways into illegal markets and loading zones.

“The operation covered Iyana-Iba and adjoining areas, where some recalcitrant traders had returned to display their wares on the newly constructed Lagos-Badagry Expressway, causing obstruction and environmental nuisance,” Gbadeyan said.

A total of 15 men and six women were apprehended, and all seized goods were forfeited to the state government in accordance with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Laws of 2017 and the Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

The Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned residents against engaging in street trading and other activities that impede traffic flow and endanger public safety.

“Trading on highways and walkways disrupts traffic movement and increases travel time for innocent motorists,” Akerele stated.
“Those engaged in street trading, illegal ticketing, or operating unauthorized bus stops must desist or face the full weight of the law.”

The Lagos government reiterated its commitment to maintaining cleaner, safer, and more organized roads, warning that similar enforcement operations would continue across the state.