LAWMA Begins Enforcement Against Illegal Trading, Cart Pushers at Lagos Markets

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has commenced enforcement against illegal trading and cart-pusher activities at Ago Palace Way Market following violations recorded during a monitoring exercise.

Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, disclosed this in a post via social media on Thursday, September 17, 2026.

Mr Gbadegesin said the enforcement followed observations made by the agency’s Project WISE team during its monitoring exercise on September 15.

According to him, traders were found selling along the road and in other unauthorised spaces, while using cart pushers to evacuate their waste.

He said the activities were contributing to indiscriminate dumping, obstruction of pedestrian access and disruption of traffic flow.

“Our teams are carrying out enforcement at Ago Palace Way Market at this hour, following violations documented during @Lawma_gov Project WISE team monitoring exercise on 15 September,” he wrote.

“Officers observed traders selling along the road and in other unauthorised spaces, while using cart pushers to evacuate their waste. These activities are contributing to indiscriminate dumping, blocking pedestrian access and obstructing traffic.”

The LAWMA boss warned traders that moving waste away from their stalls did not amount to proper waste disposal if it was dumped in another location.

“Moving waste away from a stall is not the same as disposing of it properly. When that waste is dumped elsewhere, another street or community inherits the problem,” he said.

Mr Gbadegesin directed traders to use their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators for waste collection and conduct their businesses only in authorised locations.

He also stressed that roads and walkways must remain free of obstruction.

“Traders must use their assigned PSP operators for waste collection and conduct their business in authorised locations. Roads and walkways must remain clear,” he added.

According to him, the ongoing enforcement covers both illegal trading and cart-pusher activities, with sustained monitoring expected after the immediate exercise.

“The test is not simply whether the area is cleared today, but whether it stays clear and waste is properly collected after our teams leave,” Mr Gbadegesin said.