Street hawkers in trouble as KAI officers arrest offenders

The Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade, on Monday, July 4, began a clampdown on street hawkers and traders for violating the laws of Lagos state.
A young hawker hides at a side of the road to sell ground nut to passerby. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
The state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had decided to be hard on the sellers following the destruction of about 49 BRT buses after a hawker was pursued into it by KAI officers.
An empty street in Ogba area of Lagos on Monday, July 4. The road used to be filled with hawkers. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Reports say the hawkers have been alerted about the new rule and had been told to leave the streets, which failure to comply attracts a six-month jail term or N90,000 fine.
A taskforce vehicle parading the street to clear potential street hawkers and vendors in accordance with the laws of Lagos state. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
NAIJ.com went on the streets to feel the pulse of some streets and busy roads but there really few hawkers on the streets with the ones seen selling at areas where they might be able to evade arrest.
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Another taskforce vehicle being paraded on the streets of Lagos as the officers go in search of scapegoats. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
And further reports by Information Nigeria revealed that some of the hawkers were nabbed along major routes in Lagos such as Maryland, Ojota, Ikeja, Oshodi, among others.
The vehicles being used by KAI officials to arrest street hawkers.
Although the latest resolve by the Lagos state government is not a new law in the state, many have condemned the new move as they believe the governor should have provided options for the hawkers who will now be displaced since their sources of income have been taken away from them.
This woman was still hawking on the streets despite the directive by the Lagos state government. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Many are also of the opinion that putting the traders out of the streets might increase the spate of robbery in the local areas, which they believe street trading has helped to reduce.