Posted by By Paul Sanusi on
The onslaught against street trading in Lagos, by the state government, has led to an increase in night markets in the state.
The onslaught against street trading in Lagos, by the state government, has led to an increase in night markets in the state.
Investigations by P.M.News revealed that any available place, including walkways, street junctions, roads and footbridges is being converted to a market.
In Ketu, the walkway stretching from tipper garage up to Ketu bus stop, has been taken over by traders who display all manner of goods, ranging from meat, pepper, second-hand clothes and recharge cards, among others. With this development, pedestrians are left with no other choice but to struggle with motorists and other road users.
At the Ojota end of Oregun road, as soon as it is 6 p.m., the petty traders start displaying their wares, something they dare not do in the daytime when operatives of KAI brigade are around.
P.M.News made the same observations at Onipanu, Fadeyi, Palmgrove, Agege-Pen Cinema, Iyana Ipaja, Ikotun, Ojodu-Berger, Ikorodu, Orile, Mile 2, Ajegunle, Idumota Obalende, Ajah, Somolu and many other places around the metropolis.
Respondents told P.M.News that the law banning street trading in Lagos state was the reason they changed their business hours. Others attributed the change to the high cost of renting a shop.
Mrs. Bola Dada, a pepper seller, at Onipanu, said she used to sell in the afternoon but since the ban on street trading, she has chosen to trade in the night. She, however, agreed that the law is good, but appealed to governor Babatunde Fashola to map out a location where night trading can be done.
Emeka Godwin, a second-hand clothes dealer, at Ketu, attributed his decision to sell at night to his inability to secure a shop due to his financial situation after his shop was demolished at Tejuosho market, Yaba. Godwin, however, stated that he hopes to get a shop as soon as money is available to do so.
On the dangers associated with street trading, most of the traders place their fate in the hands of God. They, however, agreed that they are not happy trading along the roads and appealed to the government to provide a night market or provide a better place where they can transact their businesses, rather than risking their lives.