Enforcement team sensitises traders, directs them to vacate unauthorised locations as sustained monitoring begins

Ejibunu Mercy

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Project WISE team, in collaboration with officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, carried out an enforcement operation at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) to dislodge illegal street traders and prevent illegal trading activities along unauthorised locations.

During the operation, illegal traders occupying road corridors and other unauthorised areas were sensitised and directed to vacate the location. The exercise was aimed at restoring order, ensuring free movement of pedestrians and motorists, and maintaining a clean and orderly environment within the area.

The Authority noted that illegal trading along road corridors and public spaces obstructs pedestrian walkways, interferes with traffic flow, and contributes to indiscriminate waste disposal in the affected areas. The operation forms part of LAWMA’s broader enforcement strategy to reclaim public spaces and ensure compliance with the State’s environmental and sanitation laws.

LAWMA disclosed that continuous monitoring will be sustained at the location to prevent traders from returning and to ensure that the gains of the operation are maintained. The Authority reiterated that enforcement is not a one-off exercise, and that sustained vigilance is essential to keeping cleared areas free of encroachment.

Traders and members of the public are advised to operate only in authorised locations and to dispose of waste responsibly through approved PSP operators. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant agencies to maintain a cleaner, healthier, and more orderly Lagos.