Lagos to Arrest Buyers Who Patronise Roadside Traders From Next Week
Residents of Lagos who regularly stop by roadsides, medians and walkways to purchase food, clothing, household items and other goods may soon face arrest as the State Government intensifies its crackdown on illegal trading.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has warned that, beginning next week, residents who patronise traders operating in unauthorised public spaces will be arrested and prosecuted alongside the traders.
Global Mirror News gathered that the renewed enforcement is targeted at traders occupying roads, medians, walkways, setbacks and other areas not approved for commercial activities across Lagos State.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the new enforcement policy on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at the authority’s headquarters.
Gbadegesin explained that the enforcement would no longer focus exclusively on traders who occupy prohibited spaces, as buyers who knowingly patronise such traders could also be held liable under the law.
“From next week, anyone found buying from traders operating on roadsides, medians, walkways, setbacks or other unauthorised spaces will be arrested, alongside the traders, and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” he said.
According to the LAWMA chief, the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 provides a legal basis for holding buyers accountable for patronising illegal roadside markets.
Global Mirror News reports that offenders convicted under Section 151(2) of the law could face a ₦90,000 fine, six months’ imprisonment, or both, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
Gbadegesin said the decision was necessary because illegal trading and indiscriminate waste disposal are closely connected, with roadside markets frequently generating refuse that ends up on roads, in drainage channels and other public spaces.
He noted that the consequences extend beyond environmental pollution, as the activities also contribute to blocked drainage systems, traffic congestion and public health risks.
According to him, removing illegal traders from public spaces without addressing the patronage that sustains them would only provide a temporary solution.
“Our objective is to stop the cycle that allows illegal trading and indiscriminate waste disposal to return after enforcement operations. Traders occupy public spaces because people continue to patronise them. Buyers must understand that their actions sustain the problem and that they are also accountable under the law,” Gbadegesin said.
The LAWMA management further disclosed that the authority is working to improve waste collection services in inner streets and communities, particularly around areas where illegal dumping has previously been cleared.
Global Mirror News gathered that LAWMA intends to identify and address gaps in waste collection services as part of efforts to prevent residents from resorting to unauthorised dumping.
However, the agency warned that deliberate dumping of refuse, re-dumping after sanitation operations and continued patronage of illegal roadside markets would attract sanctions.
Gbadegesin therefore urged Lagos residents and businesses to patronise recognised markets and make use of approved waste collection channels.
He stressed that the convenience of buying goods by the roadside should not be allowed to compromise public health, road safety, traffic flow and the orderly use of public spaces.
The enforcement is expected to affect both traders and their customers as Lagos authorities move to discourage commercial activities in locations designated for transportation, pedestrian movement, drainage, road expansion and other public purposes.
Global Mirror News reports that the latest warning represents a further tightening of Lagos State’s efforts to restore order to major roads and public spaces while addressing the environmental problems associated with illegal trading and improper waste disposal.
Residents are consequently being advised to avoid roadside markets and patronise approved trading locations ahead of the commencement of the enforcement exercise next week.
