U.S. Fulbright Scholar Basinski Shares Research Finding on Street Trading with Lagos Audience
(Lagos: July 21, 2009)

Sean Basinski speaking on Street trading in Lagos. | FULL SIZE

U.S. Consulate General Public Affairs Section on July 16 hosted a presentation by Sean Basinski, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar and New York attorney, on the results of his seven-month research project on street trading and the informal economy in Lagos. The presentation was done in collaboration with Lagos-based CLEEN Foundation.
Mr. Basinski highlighted the impact of urbanization in Lagos and the attendant challenges of street trading which he said has brought heavy cost to vendors, most of whom have been displaced as a result of a new law enacted to keep them off the streets and to the environment. 

Among those who attended the public presentation were the Lagos State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning Mr. Ben Akabueze and his counterpart from the Ministry of the Environment, Mr. M.O. Dawodu.  Other participants included local government officials, various law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organizations, the press, staff of the U.S. Consulate General and a number of street traders themselves.  Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Office of the Public Defender, Environmental Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), universities, and microfinance banks also attended.

A displaced female street trader, Mrs. Patience Egbuaba, spoke about the hardship she and her family had endured as their means of livelihood was abruptly terminated.  Mr. Akabueze, spoke on behalf of the Lagos State government, while Mr. M.O. Dawodu, promised to look into areas where the State’s plans may have had unintended consequences. Most of the participants said the present harsh economic situation and the absence of a free and universal education, greatly contribute to making people street vendors.