Why hawking thrives in Lagos despite glaring danger

Despite the huge risks associated with hawking in major cities in Nigeria, particularly Lagos, the venture still goes on even on a rapid scale.

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and rights activists have continued to emphasise the dangers inherent in hawking business and the need to ban it.

Concerns have been raised on the increasing involvement of children in the venture.

Those who campaign against hawking, point to the enormous risks involved in it.

But analysts, who spoke with BD SUNDAY, said the business of hawking has continued to thrive as a result of worsening economy.

“You know, our economy is not favourable to most citizens. Many companies are retrenching staff. Many homes are today being run by wives who are into hawking. So, in order to pay school fees, house rent, and take care of feeding and clothing, among other expenses, they draft their children into the dangerous business,” an analyst, who did not want her name mentioned, said.

“As long as the economy remains unfavourable, many more people will be joining the trade, not minding the risks involved. People are not afraid whether they are going against the law of the land or not, after all, government has failed in its duty of providing quality governance that would ensure a robust economy,” the analyst added.

Street trading is not an enduring business and what is enduring is creating education opportunity for the young street traders; and for adults, the solution is in providing enabling environment for them to engage in their lawful businesses.

Indeed, apart from accidents that may lead to loss of wares, loss of limbs or outright death, hawking as a dangerous venture also exposes the children to abuse of all kinds. There are cases where children involved in hawking had been raped, kidnapped or killed for ritual purposes.

Basirat Jimoh, 17, told our correspondent that she often encounters lots of risks. According to her, in addition to losing her wares in some cases to commuters who refuse to pay, she loses items to state authorities, members of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), who routinely seize her goods.

But she said she was not discouraged by the quantum of the challenges she faces on the highways.

Bashirat, who sells plantain chips, said: “Honestly, hawking on highways is risky but I am used to some of the roads. I am used to the roads; I do pass a particular route everyday and the roads are always busy. There was a time I fell down as a result of bad road. I lost everything because my wares fell into the gutter. I was very sad.”

What then could be driving Bashirat to continue in the business? Two things- quick patronage by commuters and her inability to secure bricks-and-mortar shop for her trade, she said.

Bashirat, who makes about N1,800 daily income told BD SUNDAY that she doesn’t have money to rent a shop for about N10,000 a month or about N150,000 a year.

“This amount is too big for me,” Bashirat laments.

She is not alone in this situation. Chinedu, who hawks bottled water and minerals, claims that accident is unavoidable in street hawking. Narrating his experience, he said a motorcycle once ran over his legs.

“I could not walk for a month. I used all the money I had to pay for my treatment. It was not easy then. My profit was about N400 daily then. It was not enough to pay my hospital bills. I had to borrow money from a friend. Resuscitating my business was not easy, I borrowed money from a friend and it took me years to refund it,” Chinedu said.

Mary Nsikak, a plantain hawker, aspires to own a shop of her own. But she said that expenses on training her children in school have put a hold on the dream for now.

The 46-year-old mother of four has never been involved in any accident. She, however, fears for her children who hawk along with her to increase the family income.

Oyindamola Usman