Roadside Markets Mushroom in Lagos
It was all bustle and hustle recently at the roadside market along Apapa-Oshodi expressway at Cele. With conductors shouting themselves hoarse looking for passengers and traders advertising their wares to all and sundry, a clear picture of commotion was emerging. Suddenly! Everybody took to their heels, sellers left their wares, passengers ran helter skelter for their dear lives and conductors scampered to safety. Shortly before the ensuing melee, gunshots from robbers had broken the flow of motion and hell was let loose as everyone ran for cover.
But no sooner had the robbers left did the traders resume at their duty post with some counting their losses as some people used that opportunity to steal their goods.
Markets in and around Lagos State have in the last three years of Babatunde Raji Fashola’s administration witnessed lots of structural changes. It would be recalled that the government had imposed a ban on street selling and to some it was a welcome development while to others, he was just closing their means of livelihood without providing an alternative arrangement.
But according to reports, the government had considered the petty traders before restructuring the market by operating an “open ground market system” where people that can't afford shops can still sell in the market but on the grounds that they restrict themselves and activities within that marked area.
However, the onslaught against street trading in Lagos, by the state government, has led to an increase in night markets in the state and according to Chukwuma Nwaaba who sells Aba made shoes at the Cele foot bridge; “I stay at Barlett to sell in the afternoon but come down to Cele in the night to sell because there are multitude of people going home in the night.” He disclosed to THISDAY that proximity and reach to the target customers as reasons why he leaves the confines of the market to the road to sell in the night.
All across Lagos, space is money as discovered by THISDAY. Chukwuma revealed that any available place, including walkways, street junctions, roads and footbridges being converted to market space is not for free contrary to popular opinion. “ From Monday to Thursday, I pay N350 to the Iyaloja and on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s N550 because it’s weekend while on Sunday, we just pay N250,” he said.
On further prodding from THISDAY, he said that the only problem they have is the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) which arrest them all the time. “ Even though we pay the Iyaloja, yet they don’t protect us from arrest. I had to part with N11,000 when I was arrested. It was even small because I had a brother in the army who pleaded on my behalf. So we don’t usually come out in the morning or afternoon when they will be around but in the evening, we all troop out because by then they would have closed from work,” he added.
Another seller who craved anonymity said; " here I am staying, I pay as much as N550 everyday before I can display my wares. The Iyaloja comes everyday to task us for our hard earned money. I don't have an option but to pay up if I am to get my daily bread.”
Simply identified as Okey MTN, the young man who sells recharge cards lamented that despite the fees they pay, the men of the Kick Against Indiscipline still harass them. He narrated to THISDAY his pains in the course of doing his business. "Just last week I was arrested by KAI. They picked me up bundled me into their car. I had to part with some money after having to spend a night in their office before they released me. As you can see, I don't use a table anymore to sell, rather, I walk up and down to sell my cards. I resorted to this method to be able to run away on time. The last time I was trying to dismantle my table when they caught up with me and I swore that next time they won't succeed so easily," he said.
At Apple Junction in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Okomaiko, Ijesha, Mile 2 and a host of other places, the walkway meant for pedestrians have been taken over by traders who display all manner of goods, ranging from meat, pepper, fruits and recharge cards. In some cases, pedestrians are left with no other choice but to struggle with motorists and other road users.
Most of the traders lamented that the ban on street trading in Lagos was the reason they changed their business hours from morning to evening to avoid the long arm of the law while others blamed it on the high cost of renting a shop. A corn seller at Cele, said she used to sell in the afternoon but since the ban on street trading, she has chosen to trade in the night. While agreeing with the wisdom behind the ban, she however appealed to the governor to let them trade in the evening as against the afternoon.
Egoigwe, also a trader says, “the governor's sincere effort at organizing our markets is a good thing. Although for some, it was suffering and hardship but in the long run it's for a good and some of them are getting used to it. Look at the people selling on the railway at the Yaba Market; are they not risking their lives? Immediately a train comes by, you see people scrambling to get their wares off the track and some sustain injuries in the process. So government's initiative to do away with street trading is commendable but they have to put more efforts because it's still thriving."
Iya Bolajoko at the Oshodi Park said that although she is selling on the roadside, she does not have peace. Hear her; " My daughter, what can I say, imagine an old woman like me running like a thief whenever I hear the sound of a siren or I see anybody in uniform. I cannot afford to pay for a shop that is why I am managing this small space. It's not as if it's for free, I am paying them for it yet nobody defends us when KAI people come.
"The positive side cannot be neglected. Its not everybody that might have the time to go the market and so these people have brought the market to us instead of us going to the market. They should be encouraged and not crucified' says Kelechi Okparanne.
Not everybody poured accolades on the roadside traders. According to a trader at the Trade Fair Complex at Balogun, the efforts of the government to rid the streets of roadside traders are wise and noble. In her words, “government's ban on street trading has increased customer influx as compared to before when roadside traders will not allow customers to get inside the market.”
The system whereby markets expand beyond their boundaries, spilling into streets and roads has its implications; traffic is obstructed, precious time is wasted and all suffer the inconvenience of moving at a snail speed. But apart from obstructing traffic, lives are often at risk in these places. On the dangers associated with street trading, a trader said that there is no high and fast rule to danger as it can happen to anybody anywhere and anytime.
Some people contend that it’s not yet uhuru but with appropriate structures on ground, its attainability is achievable. However, the first thing to do is to restrict both traders and buyers to the designated market areas with existing regulations being enforced.
Furthermore, they argue that agencies whose duty is to maintain orderliness on the roads and our markets should live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that traders are kept where they belong in the market in the interest of all. However there is need for caution, as it shouldn’t be a means to extort, harass and molest the traders. The government should on its on part build affordable shops for its citizens.
But no sooner had the robbers left did the traders resume at their duty post with some counting their losses as some people used that opportunity to steal their goods.
Markets in and around Lagos State have in the last three years of Babatunde Raji Fashola’s administration witnessed lots of structural changes. It would be recalled that the government had imposed a ban on street selling and to some it was a welcome development while to others, he was just closing their means of livelihood without providing an alternative arrangement.
But according to reports, the government had considered the petty traders before restructuring the market by operating an “open ground market system” where people that can't afford shops can still sell in the market but on the grounds that they restrict themselves and activities within that marked area.
However, the onslaught against street trading in Lagos, by the state government, has led to an increase in night markets in the state and according to Chukwuma Nwaaba who sells Aba made shoes at the Cele foot bridge; “I stay at Barlett to sell in the afternoon but come down to Cele in the night to sell because there are multitude of people going home in the night.” He disclosed to THISDAY that proximity and reach to the target customers as reasons why he leaves the confines of the market to the road to sell in the night.
All across Lagos, space is money as discovered by THISDAY. Chukwuma revealed that any available place, including walkways, street junctions, roads and footbridges being converted to market space is not for free contrary to popular opinion. “ From Monday to Thursday, I pay N350 to the Iyaloja and on Fridays and Saturdays, it’s N550 because it’s weekend while on Sunday, we just pay N250,” he said.
On further prodding from THISDAY, he said that the only problem they have is the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) which arrest them all the time. “ Even though we pay the Iyaloja, yet they don’t protect us from arrest. I had to part with N11,000 when I was arrested. It was even small because I had a brother in the army who pleaded on my behalf. So we don’t usually come out in the morning or afternoon when they will be around but in the evening, we all troop out because by then they would have closed from work,” he added.
Another seller who craved anonymity said; " here I am staying, I pay as much as N550 everyday before I can display my wares. The Iyaloja comes everyday to task us for our hard earned money. I don't have an option but to pay up if I am to get my daily bread.”
Simply identified as Okey MTN, the young man who sells recharge cards lamented that despite the fees they pay, the men of the Kick Against Indiscipline still harass them. He narrated to THISDAY his pains in the course of doing his business. "Just last week I was arrested by KAI. They picked me up bundled me into their car. I had to part with some money after having to spend a night in their office before they released me. As you can see, I don't use a table anymore to sell, rather, I walk up and down to sell my cards. I resorted to this method to be able to run away on time. The last time I was trying to dismantle my table when they caught up with me and I swore that next time they won't succeed so easily," he said.
At Apple Junction in Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Okomaiko, Ijesha, Mile 2 and a host of other places, the walkway meant for pedestrians have been taken over by traders who display all manner of goods, ranging from meat, pepper, fruits and recharge cards. In some cases, pedestrians are left with no other choice but to struggle with motorists and other road users.
Most of the traders lamented that the ban on street trading in Lagos was the reason they changed their business hours from morning to evening to avoid the long arm of the law while others blamed it on the high cost of renting a shop. A corn seller at Cele, said she used to sell in the afternoon but since the ban on street trading, she has chosen to trade in the night. While agreeing with the wisdom behind the ban, she however appealed to the governor to let them trade in the evening as against the afternoon.
Egoigwe, also a trader says, “the governor's sincere effort at organizing our markets is a good thing. Although for some, it was suffering and hardship but in the long run it's for a good and some of them are getting used to it. Look at the people selling on the railway at the Yaba Market; are they not risking their lives? Immediately a train comes by, you see people scrambling to get their wares off the track and some sustain injuries in the process. So government's initiative to do away with street trading is commendable but they have to put more efforts because it's still thriving."
Iya Bolajoko at the Oshodi Park said that although she is selling on the roadside, she does not have peace. Hear her; " My daughter, what can I say, imagine an old woman like me running like a thief whenever I hear the sound of a siren or I see anybody in uniform. I cannot afford to pay for a shop that is why I am managing this small space. It's not as if it's for free, I am paying them for it yet nobody defends us when KAI people come.
"The positive side cannot be neglected. Its not everybody that might have the time to go the market and so these people have brought the market to us instead of us going to the market. They should be encouraged and not crucified' says Kelechi Okparanne.
Not everybody poured accolades on the roadside traders. According to a trader at the Trade Fair Complex at Balogun, the efforts of the government to rid the streets of roadside traders are wise and noble. In her words, “government's ban on street trading has increased customer influx as compared to before when roadside traders will not allow customers to get inside the market.”
The system whereby markets expand beyond their boundaries, spilling into streets and roads has its implications; traffic is obstructed, precious time is wasted and all suffer the inconvenience of moving at a snail speed. But apart from obstructing traffic, lives are often at risk in these places. On the dangers associated with street trading, a trader said that there is no high and fast rule to danger as it can happen to anybody anywhere and anytime.
Some people contend that it’s not yet uhuru but with appropriate structures on ground, its attainability is achievable. However, the first thing to do is to restrict both traders and buyers to the designated market areas with existing regulations being enforced.
Furthermore, they argue that agencies whose duty is to maintain orderliness on the roads and our markets should live up to their responsibilities in ensuring that traders are kept where they belong in the market in the interest of all. However there is need for caution, as it shouldn’t be a means to extort, harass and molest the traders. The government should on its on part build affordable shops for its citizens.
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