The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has warned illegal traders to stop conducting businesses on our roads thereby causing traffic gridlocks on some parts of the State.

Its General Manager, Bolaji Oreagba gave this warning while addressing Officers on the need to ensure free flow of traffic during and beyond ‘Ember Months’ across the State.

Oreagba disclosed that activities of these illegal traders impeded the free flow of traffic on major roads.

He disclosed further that Section (1) of the Lagos State Street trading and Illegal markets prohibition Law of 2003 prohibits both buyers and sellers from engaging in business activities at an unauthorised place: while there are various penalties/jail terms for anyone found guilty of contravening the Law.

According to him, it has become worrisome having to spend many hours in traffic caused by illegal traders on our roads, thereby creating an artificial bottleneck.

In his words, We have to put a stop to that by ensuring that activities involving buying and selling are taken off the roads and put back into market complex designed for such

According to Oreagba, this warning was also meant to protect lives of illegal traders from unforseen circumstances such as accidents from reckless private/commercial/truck/tanker drivers.

He lamented that these illegal trading activities persisted, despite several warnings to these illegal traders to stop displaying and selling wares on main roads, medians, road- setbacks, bus-stops, and drainage alignments.

The General Manager called on market leaders to support the Agency in ensuring activities of these illegal traders are put under check to make our roads free for motorists and other road users across the State.

This is according to Director, Public Affairs & Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq.