The recent clash around the Mandilas area of Lagos Island, which led to the death of one person and left many others injured, has once again exposed the growing degeneration of the Lagos Island trading communities.
From Idumota through Dosunmu, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Tinubu Square, Broad Street, Balogun, Bankole, Offin, Oke-Arin, and down to Apongbon, what was once a clean, decent, and peaceful hub of commerce has now deteriorated into a chaotic and ungovernable sprawl. Traders have taken over the roads, obstructing motorists and pedestrians, while middlemen and street urchins harass buyers in an increasingly unsafe environment.
This degeneration has transformed the markets into cesspools of disorder where violence frequently erupts. Harassment, intimidation, and outright clashes are now common, with knives, machetes, and even firearms being used in disputes. The atmosphere mirrors a simmering war zone of pent-up hostilities, ready to explode at the slightest provocation.
It is time for decisive action. The Lagos State government must enforce the existing laws that criminalize street trading and traffic hawking. Traders should be compelled to keep their goods within their shops, while aggressive middlemen and unemployed street urchins should be removed from the markets and rehabilitated through skill acquisition programmes. Those who return to harass citizens should face prosecution.
The Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) agency, which was designed to enforce order in markets and public spaces, has become ineffective and compromised. It requires urgent reform, retraining of officers, and strong leadership. If it cannot deliver on its mandate, it should be replaced with a better-trained and well-equipped task force of indigenous Lagosians dedicated to cleansing the markets.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu must treat this as a critical challenge of his administration. The overcrowding and disorder in Lagos markets are not just unsightly but also dangerous, fueling the rise of warlords and urban bandits who exploit and recruit miscreants from these communities. A special task force should dismantle these groups without hesitation.
To restore order, the state must also introduce a monitoring system that combines human supervision with digital surveillance—using cameras and real-time logistics to respond swiftly to disturbances. This will complement the work of KAI and ensure continuous enforcement.
The history of Lagos markets shows that discipline and order are achievable. Leaders such as Madam Pelewura and Alhaja Mosolasi Alasọ Oke once ensured that markets were decent, efficient, and community-driven. Those standards can be restored today with firm leadership and collective responsibility.
Governor Sanwo-Olu has an opportunity to rebuild Lagos markets into safe, clean, and prosperous trading spaces. Taking urgent action now will strengthen his administration’s achievements and safeguard the heritage of Lagosians.
As our ancestors said: “Ti oju o ba ti ẹhingbẹti, oju oni ti Eko” — if yesterday’s dignity is lost, today’s image of Lagos is at risk.
Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd)
Former GOC, Third Armored Division, Jos
Former Member, Provisional Ruling Council
Former Minister of Communications
