Lagos State Government has accused Chinese companies and businessmen of encouraging menace of street trading in the metropolis, saying it will no longer tolerate acts of indiscipline from corporate organisations and individuals in the state.
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Central Business District, Hon. Agboola Dabiri lamented that the Chinese businessmen were hindering efforts of the state government in sanitizing and ridding the state of street trading.
He said, “They are over a thousand on the island. They do not allow Nigerians to travel to China to bring goods. They import the goods to our door step and mostly to those that sell on the walkways.
“What the Chinese businessmen do is to give these traders small goods to sell. And two days after, the businessman will approach each trader, accompanied with two body guards, to collect their money. Through their business strategy, they encourage street trading. Even if anyone has small money, one can start business with them.”
Dabiri further noted that the corporate goods dealers moan daily over the Chinese business strategy, saying they sell their goods lesser than the cost which Nigerians who had travelled to the manufacturers to import the goods.
In his words, “We are not saying that they are not savvy business experts, but they need to do things properly in Lagos.This is one of the challenges we have, as regards street trading. But I can assure you that we are trying our best to ensure that we end street trading in CBDs in Lagos.”
