The Human Rights Group Rejects Ban On Street Tradings

The ban imposed by the Lagos State Government which criminalized Street Tradings and Pedlings have been condemned by The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), a civil society organization in the country.

In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 signed by its National Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Onwubiko, the organization said that the law was intended to stifle the economic activities of the poor majority in the state.

It described the law as “draconian, unconstitutional, un-African and uncharitable’’, saying that governments had had various policies which negatively affected the less-privileged in the society.


According to HURIWA, the policies and law are not only anti-poor but targeted at further economic enslavement of the poor masses in the country.

The group reminded governments in states with such policies that their actions were targeted at driving millions of Nigerians to their early graves.

It said that it was a shame that human rights activists and lawyers in Lagos state had maintained ‘graveside’ silence on the issue.

The group urged Lagos State Government to have a rethink on the issue if it did not want to be taken to court on it. It also promised mass protest against Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his anti-poor policy.

Instead, the group urges the governments with such law to provide affordable shops for the people.