The Lagos State Government has once restated its policy of zero tolerance on street trading and hawking in the state, warning violators of the state’s environmental laws to desist or incur the wrath of law enforcement agencies.

According to a statement issued from the office of the State Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, Lagos Environmental Laws do not permit anyone to convert the roads, medians, set-backs and walkways into markets.

While pointing out that the activities of the illegal street traders are degrading the environment and valuable infrastructures put in place with tax payers’ money, Adejare said that it is regrettable that some illegal traders had not heeded the enlightenment and advocacy messages of the Public Affairs and Advocacy teams of the ministry.

According to him, “A lot of funds have been expended on environmental regeneration to improve the aesthetics of the state. It is regrettable that street traders and hawkers have been found to be responsible for the vandalisation and defacing of some of the parks and gardens.”

He emphasised that street trading and hawking have resulted in the menace of child abuse, traffic gridlocks, untimely and avoidable loss of lives, destitution, promotion of crimes, armed robberies and defacing the environment and blocking of the drainage system.

The commissioner disclosed that the State Government has given the KAI Brigade, Task Force and other law enforcement agencies directive to clamp down on all violators of its environmental Laws, especially hawking and street trading.

•Photo shows Lagos Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare.