Some business owners operating in Ikeja, Lagos State, have spoken out against what they describe as continuous harassment and extortion by officials from the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat. These traders allege that enforcement officers, specifically from the environmental unit, are unjustly targeting them under the pretext of enforcing the local government’s Sanitation Bye-Law.
Several traders shared their stories on Wednesday, accusing the officers of extorting them after locking their shops. According to them, the officials claim that the traders are in violation of local environmental laws, including building on road setbacks or over public drainages and canals. However, many of these business owners firmly deny these allegations, labeling the entire operation as an “annual ritual” designed primarily for extortion.
A trader who gave his name as Mr. Tunji detailed his ordeal, explaining how the enforcement officers repeatedly harass business owners like himself. He stated, “For years, we have been subjected to harassment and extortion by these officials. They show up, lock our shops, and claim we have violated some environmental rule. Recently, they locked up my wife’s shop and posted a notice without giving any clear reason.” He went on to explain that when he tried to find out why their shop was targeted, the officers simply told him to visit their office. “I couldn’t understand what we had done wrong. I chased after them, pleading for them to open our shop because we had not obstructed the road, nor did we build on the drainage, as they claimed.”
The officers’ actions have sparked frustration among the traders, many of whom feel they are being unfairly targeted for financial gain. Mr. Tunji’s encounter is not an isolated case. Another trader, who chose to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal, recounted his own experience. He explained that he was minding his brother’s shop while he was out of town when the officers arrived. Without any explanation, they tried to padlock the shop, ignoring his questions. “I was outside, trying to speak to one of the senior officials to understand what was happening, but the other officers were already locking up the shop. They accused me of having an overhanging structure beyond the drainage, which wasn’t even true.”
The traders’ frustration deepens when they are forced to visit the local government office to resolve the matter. According to Kingsley, another trader, he was told to make a payment before his shop could be reopened. “When I arrived at their office after my shop was locked, they told me to make a payment. I paid the amount they demanded, but I wasn’t given any receipt or documentation to confirm the payment. This made me worried because they pulled the same trick last year when my shop was also locked. They didn’t provide any reason for the closure then either,” Kingsley explained. He expressed concern that this cycle of extortion is becoming an annual occurrence for traders in Ikeja.
The pattern seems clear to those affected: every year, enforcement officers from the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat lock shops under vague accusations, demanding payment to unlock them, with no receipts or records issued for the money collected. The traders believe this is nothing more than an organized form of extortion aimed at squeezing money out of them under the guise of enforcing environmental laws.
A resident in the area, who is also a landlord, backed up the traders’ claims, sharing his perspective on how unfairly these laws are being enforced. He pointed out that while some traders may indeed violate the laws by building too close to drainage systems, the enforcement officers appear to be more interested in extracting money than in genuinely addressing environmental concerns. He narrated an incident where he had to intervene in a confrontation between the enforcement officers and a trader. “I told them to show me where the shop was built on the drainage, which was the crux of the argument. They struggled to provide a clear answer.”
In a broader sense, the traders feel trapped in a cycle of fear and uncertainty. Many of them rely on their businesses to support their families, and the threat of sudden shop closures looms over their livelihoods. The enforcement officers’ practices leave them feeling powerless, unsure of how to navigate the local regulations without falling victim to further extortion.
Despite the accusations against the enforcement officers, the council chairman, Mojeed Balogun, was unavailable for comment. Efforts to reach him through calls and messages went unanswered, leaving many questions about the local government’s stance on these allegations. As the traders continue to face challenges, they remain hopeful for justice and fair treatment in the future.
As these events unfold, the residents of Ikeja find themselves caught between the need for environmental regulations and the harsh realities of local governance. The stories of harassment and extortion have raised awareness among the community, prompting discussions about the need for reform in how enforcement officers operate. Many believe that a more transparent and accountable system could help alleviate the burden on small business owners while still maintaining the integrity of local environmental laws.
Ultimately, the traders of Ikeja are calling for an end to this cycle of extortion and a fair chance to operate their businesses without fear of arbitrary actions by enforcement officers. They hope that by bringing their stories to light, they can instigate change and ensure that their rights as business owners are respected.