LAWMA will arrest Lagos residents who buy from illegal roadside traders from next week, warning that offenders face prosecution, fines or imprisonment.
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced a fresh enforcement measure that will see residents who patronise traders operating in unauthorised public spaces arrested and prosecuted alongside the sellers.
The enforcement, which is expected to begin next week, will target customers buying goods from traders who display their wares on roads, road medians, walkways, setbacks and other locations not approved for commercial activities.
The development represents a significant expansion of LAWMA’s enforcement approach, as the agency moves beyond targeting traders alone to also address the demand that keeps illegal roadside markets in operation.
According to the Authority, the measure is backed by Section 151(2) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017, which makes it an offence not only to engage in certain forms of illegal trading but also to purchase goods displayed for sale in prohibited areas.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the decision formed part of a renewed strategy to address several interconnected problems affecting the state, particularly illegal trading, indiscriminate waste disposal and the obstruction of public infrastructure.
Gbadegesin explained that enforcement operations would henceforth take a broader approach by addressing both sides of the illegal trading chain.
He said residents who continue to buy from traders occupying prohibited spaces should understand that their patronage contributes to the persistence of the problem.
“The law does not only prohibit illegal street trading. It also makes it an offence to buy goods exposed or offered for sale in prohibited places.
“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.
The LAWMA chief executive also disclosed the possible consequences for those convicted under the provision. According to him, an offender could face a fine of N90,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both.
The Authority’s decision is also linked to the environmental consequences associated with illegal roadside markets.
Gbadegesin said trading activities in prohibited locations often result in the generation and careless disposal of refuse, with waste subsequently finding its way into drainage channels, roads and other public areas.
He noted that the accumulation of waste in such locations creates problems beyond poor environmental sanitation.
Blocked drainage systems can contribute to flooding, while refuse dumped around roads and walkways can obstruct movement, worsen traffic conditions and create health concerns for residents.
LAWMA therefore wants to break what it described as a recurring cycle in which enforcement operations clear illegal trading and dumping locations, only for the same activities to return after some time.
Gbadegesin said the continued patronage of roadside traders was one of the factors encouraging traders to return to prohibited locations after enforcement exercises.
“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,” he said.
While warning residents against violating environmental regulations, LAWMA also said it was working to improve waste collection in communities and inner streets close to areas previously identified as dumping hotspots.
Gbadegesin said the Authority had identified service gaps in some locations and was taking steps to address them.
The move, he explained, is intended to ensure that residents have access to appropriate waste disposal channels and that cleared locations do not quickly become dumping grounds again.
However, he warned that improved waste collection would not excuse deliberate violations of sanitation regulations.
According to him, residents who intentionally dump waste, repeatedly engage in improper disposal or continue to patronise illegal markets will face enforcement measures.
The LAWMA boss called on residents and businesses to patronise recognised markets and make use of approved waste collection services instead of supporting commercial activities that occupy public infrastructure.
He stressed that the convenience of buying goods from roadside traders should not be allowed to undermine public health, road safety, environmental sanitation or the orderly use of spaces meant for everyone.
The agency is also expected to continue engaging stakeholders as part of its efforts to secure greater compliance with environmental regulations. LAWMA said sustained enforcement would be combined with improved waste management services and public awareness.
The latest directive effectively places greater responsibility on consumers, warning that buyers can no longer assume that environmental enforcement applies only to the people selling goods in unauthorised locations.
For Lagos residents, the message from LAWMA is clear: purchasing goods from roadside traders operating in prohibited areas could now carry legal consequences.
The Authority said the broader objective is to discourage activities that encourage illegal occupation of public spaces, reduce indiscriminate dumping and support a cleaner and safer environment across Lagos State.
As enforcement begins next week, residents have been advised to use recognised markets and approved waste disposal channels to avoid running afoul of the law.
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