Lagos intensifies regulation of informal trading and urban spaces

The Lagos State Government is implementing new measures to regulate informal urban spaces and curb illegal street trading. Starting next week, authorities will begin arresting and prosecuting individuals who purchase goods from illegal roadside traders. This shift in enforcement strategy, confirmed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), aims to target the demand side of the informal economy to reduce traffic congestion and environmental degradation.

Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, noted that roadside trading contributes to indiscriminate waste disposal, which clogs drainage systems and causes seasonal flooding. The enforcement will be conducted alongside the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).

In a related effort to manage urban density, the Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority has mapped approximately 3,700 hectares of informal urban spaces across 1,700 locations. General Manager Daisi Oso stated that the government is working with the private sector to identify, reclaim, and designate specific areas for temporary use. The initiative seeks to balance the needs of informal businesses with the necessity of preserving public walkways, roadsides, and high-tension corridors.