Traders Only Streets
By Tosin Omoniyi
Monday, August 06, 2007
A new policy in Lagos dedicates some streets to traders only but residents in the area are kicking against it
Joyce Aleshinloye works in a commercial bank in Victoria Island but resides in Lagos Island. Her journey to the office is about 30 minutes if she board a commercial bus but most of the times she prefers a motorcycle ride since the distance is not up to five kilometers. But she ran into trouble when she bought a car. "It was then that I know what it means to resides in Lagos Island. I can't drive my car to my house as traders have completely taken over most parts of the roads. If I could have my way, I would order the total eviction of the street traders on the Island. The house that I live in was built by my father and they should not expect me to quit the house for them because of their trading. But what can I do? I have accepted my fate and I will still be here till I get married and hopefully leave this noisy environment," she said.
Aleshinloye resides at Fred Mcwen Street on the Island which alongside 14 other streets has now been converted to "traders only streets" by the Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Lagos Island Local Government.
Other streets so designated include Gbajumo, Idoluwo, Ojo-Giwa, Kosoko, Mogaji Lane, John Street, Pedro, Obun-Eko, Oko-Awo, Onibudo, Bridge, Okoya and Zulu Bolaji streets. Cars and motor- bikes are not allowed into the streets. But for now the rule operates in only two streets Fred Mcwen and Gbajumo.
If Joyce is complaining, Lookman Okanlawan is mad at what is happening in his area. A landlord at Ojo-Giwa Street, Okanlawan is at a loss as to why the state government should contemplate such a programme. "I know it is not possible to drive the traders away, but it is equally not possible for us to leave our houses for them," he told Newswatch last week.
He complained that they now have problem driving their vehicles to their homes. "We now have to live home as early as 5a.m. and can't get in until 11p.m. when the traders would have close for the day. The traders have completely taken over the street," Okanlawon said.
Although the programme has not actually kicked off at Ojo-Giwa Street, residents are already groaning due to the activities of traders. "They have completely taken over the roads leading to our houses and residents cannot bring cars to their houses again," he said.
Aside from those leaving on the streets who are having a tough time moving in the area, traders with shops are also finding it difficult to get their goods into their shops as the traders on the roads are fully in charge between 6.a.m and 6.p.m.
One of the shop owners, who spoke to Newswatch but simply gave his name as Oyewunmi said that they had to engage the services of local truck pushers known as Aboki for the sum of N150 per trip to get goods into their shops." And these Abokis could make five trips to completely evacuate the goods. This affects our profit margins," he said.
The "Traders Only Streets," according to sources in the Lagos State Government was muted to solve the problem of street trade as well as take care of the interest of average Lagosians who may be unable to pay high prices charged by shop owners on the island.
The Lagos Island Local Government designed collapsible kiosks which are given to the traders at the rate of N30, 000. The kiosks are then lined in the middle of the street with government officials on hand to ensure orderliness. They also ensure that the street is cleaned at the close of business each day. When Newswatch visited the area last week, a standby ambulance and a fire brigade vehicle were parked within the vicinity of the area in case of any problem.
But while residents and shop owners in the area are complaining of the antics of the traders, Bakare Idilamosho, a trader who sells children's wears on the street, expressed joy with the programme. She said she now has peace of mind as she can display her wares on the road without fear of being arrested by task force officials or the police. "I just came from my village and I have very little money with me, and I can not afford the N300,000 per month traders pay for shops. I don't want to involve myself in prostitution, so I used the little money on me to pay for the kiosk and I am happy that I can now do my business without being disturbed."
For Rashidat Ajao, another trader on the street, the new scheme is a welcome development. "No shop owner or enforcement agency can come here to harass me any more," she said. Rashidat, however, felt that the local government should have consulted them before building the collapsible kiosks because the kiosk are too small and can hardly contain our goods. They cannot shield us from sun or rain and the price is too high. But all the same, I appreciate the effort of the state government for their kind gesture towards the ordinary people like me," she added.
But while many of the traders praised the initiative of the state government, the N30,000 charged by the Lagos Island Local Government for the kiosk is said to be on the high side. Kamoru Oyedepo, wristwatch dealer, told Newswatch that N30, 000 is a rip-off by the government. He argued that the price should not have been more than N10, 000 if it was actually meant for the poor.
Abimbola Kadijat, dealer in shoes and bags, also told Newswatch that there was a riot in the market recently by the traders to protest the price of the kiosk. "With the so-called kiosk, if it rains, we have no where to hide our heads or all of our goods," she said.
Aderinola Disu, chairman, Lagos Island Local Government told Newswatch that the state embarked on the project to take care of poor Nigerians who do not have the means of paying huge sums of money for shops while at the same time solve the problem of illegal trading on the roads which could lead to loss of lives.
While she acknowledged the fact that residents of the affected streets could have problem driving to their respective houses, Disu said arrangements have been made with the residents on how to drive in and out of their houses without problem.
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