Enforcement targets congestion, pedestrian safety, and environmental infractions
The Lagos State Government has intensified its clampdown on illegal street trading, with its enforcement team on Monday dismantling makeshift markets at the popular 2nd Rainbow Junction, inward Mile 2. The operation, led by the Lagos State Environmental Task Force, also known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), was carried out in the early hours of the day as part of efforts to restore sanity and order to the state’s busy highways.
Confirming the exercise, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the action became necessary as the traders’ activities were causing major disruptions to traffic flow, endangering pedestrians, and contributing to environmental degradation. In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), officers were seen dismantling trading spots and clearing goods that had spilled onto the highway.
“Our enforcement team is currently dislodging illegal street traders constituting a nuisance at 2nd Rainbow Junction, inward Mile 2. These activities obstruct traffic flow, endanger pedestrians, and litter the environment,” Wahab stated. He added that the government would not relent in its mission to create a safer, cleaner, and more sustainable urban environment.
The 2nd Rainbow axis has long been notorious for gridlock caused by traders who convert the road shoulders into market stalls, leaving pedestrians to compete with vehicles for space. Monday’s enforcement exercise was therefore aimed at reclaiming the road for its intended purpose and ensuring smooth vehicular movement along the corridor.
The commissioner emphasized that the clampdown was not an isolated operation but part of a larger statewide drive to curb environmental infractions. He noted that the government’s resolve is anchored on safeguarding lives, reducing congestion, and building a city that works for everyone. “We remain committed to keeping our roads safe, clean, and free of all forms of environmental infractions,” Wahab assured.
Over the past year, the Lagos Task Force has intensified enforcement against environmental offenders. Records show that more than 16,000 motorcycles have been impounded and about 14,000 offenders arrested during various operations across the state. The crackdown, while sometimes controversial, has been defended by the government as necessary to maintain order and prevent avoidable hazards.
Residents and commuters along the Mile 2 corridor are expected to feel the impact of the latest clearance operation, which authorities say will be sustained to discourage the return of street traders. With this renewed enforcement, the Lagos State Government has once again signaled its determination to reclaim public spaces, restore order to its highways, and promote a cleaner and more livable city.
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