Lagos traders turn Berger lay-by into roadside market

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The Berger lay-by in Lagos State, originally designed as a temporary stopping point for vehicles, has gradually transformed into a bustling commercial hub, with traders selling food, drinks, clothing, phone accessories and other items.

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While the development has provided a source of livelihood for the traders and offered commuters convenient access to goods and services, it has also raised concerns about traffic congestion, safety and the obstruction of the facility’s intended purpose.

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A visit by PUNCH Metro to the area on Monday revealed traders displaying their wares along portions of the lay-by as vehicles moved through the busy Berger area.

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Kingsley Ifeanyi, who said he had sold FanMilk ice cream and other items in the area for nine years, said the location gave him easy access to customers.

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In addition to selling ice cream, Ifeanyi sells snacks and operates a Point-of-Sale service.

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He said he could make about N20,000 on a typical day, although sales had declined during the rainy season.

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“For now, the business is not thriving because we are in the rainy season. So, it’s not much for now. Maybe from October, November, business can pick up. But for now, the sales are not coming up,” he said.

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He said one reason customers preferred roadside traders was the opportunity to negotiate prices.

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“There’s no money in the country. Like now, you can price. But at the supermarket, you can’t price,” Ifeanyi said.

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Another trader, who sells snacks and fast food and declined to give his name, said he had operated in the area for more than four years.

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He said his earnings varied, estimating that he could make between N5,000 and N10,000 on some days.

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“I cannot be specific. Some days, it will be okay, but actually, let’s say between N5,000 and N10,000. But it doesn’t come regularly. Some days, we may not get up to that,” he said.

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The trader attributed the popularity of roadside food vendors to convenience, particularly for commuters in a hurry.

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“Especially when they are in a hurry or actually hungry, they cannot wait to go down the street looking for a place to eat. They will just pick it up,” he said.

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However, he said sales had recently declined, which he attributed to reduced cash flow in the economy.

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“Probably, the flow in the system or in the economy is somehow affecting some people,” he said.

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For some traders, however, operating at the lay-by comes with the constant risk of enforcement.

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A trader, Morenikeji Olanrewaju, who said she had been selling in the area since 2022, identified poor enforcement by officials of the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade as one of the major challenges facing traders.

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“It’s because of those KAI. They are chasing us away. They will come and drive us away here,” she said.

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She added that customers were attracted to the area because goods sold there were cheaper than those in supermarkets.

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“The supermarket there is expensive, and this place is cheaper,” Olanrewaju said.

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A Point-of-Sale operator, Blessing Egu, who said she had operated in the area for three years, also identified convenience as a major reason for patronage.

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“Like this area now, you can see there’s no bank. So, it’s very easy. PoS is everywhere,” she said.

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However, Egu identified fraud as one of the major challenges confronting PoS operators.

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“The hardest part of the business is fraud, because fraudsters are after PoS businesses. They can do fake transfers. Sometimes, before you know it, they have absconded,” she said.

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She added that inadequate capital could also affect the operation of a PoS business.

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“If you don’t have enough money, you can’t do POS business,” Egu said.

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A clothing seller, Darlington, who said he had operated in the area for less than six months, also attributed patronage to the affordability of goods sold by roadside traders.

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“You know, because it’s always cheaper here. It’s affordable here,” he said.

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He said one of his major challenges was meeting customers’ expectations and persuading them to make purchases, particularly as rising costs had affected consumer spending.

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“The hardest part now, to me, is trying to get exactly what customers want, how to meet their target, satisfy them and also how to even persuade them to buy,” he said.

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Describing the state of his business, Darlington said, “We are breaking even. I will not say it’s worse, though, but we are trying. We make profit, and at times we run at a loss too. It’s business now.”

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A phone accessories seller, who declined to give his name, said he had operated in the area for between three and four years.

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He also identified enforcement by KAI officials as a major challenge.

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“The biggest challenge here is, you know, the KAI, they disturb us,” he said.

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The trader said customers often patronised vendors at the lay-by because of convenience and the time they would otherwise spend travelling to shops.

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“Some people, because of the time factor, find going to the shop might be a little bit stressful. So, since they’ve gotten what they want, they can easily make it and find their way out,” he said.

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For some commuters, however, the presence of traders is seen as a benefit rather than a nuisance.

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Olufemi Ogunsola, a commuter, said the traders provided useful services to people travelling through the area.

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“Actually, no. It’s of advantage to us,” he said when asked whether the traders’ activities made movement difficult. “People that are travelling can get something to eat, then move on.”

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However, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority warned that the increasing occupation of portions of the Berger lay-by by traders, alongside the activities of some commercial bus operators, was undermining the facility’s intended purpose.

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The agency’s spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, told PUNCH Metro that the encroachment was impeding the smooth movement of vehicles and contributing to traffic congestion and operational hazards in the Berger area.

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“Such encroachment and unlawful use of the lay-by inevitably undermine its intended traffic-management function, impede the seamless movement of vehicles and contribute to avoidable traffic congestion and operational hazards within the Berger axis,” he said.

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Adebayo said LASTMA had, alongside other relevant government agencies, including the KAI Brigade, conducted several enforcement operations in the area.

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According to him, traders found obstructing the right of way and commercial bus operators engaging in traffic violations had been apprehended and prosecuted before Mobile Courts.

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He added that the agency had engaged transport unions and associations to discourage their members from indiscriminately picking up and dropping off passengers along the roadway.

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According to the LASTMA spokesperson, such practices create unnecessary bottlenecks and expose commuters and other road users to safety risks.

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He said the agency would continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies to remove obstructions and restore the full functionality of the lay-by.

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He urged traders, transport operators and other road users to desist from activities capable of compromising traffic flow, pedestrian safety and the efficiency of the transportation system.

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Adebayo also said members of the public could report illegal trading activities and other road-related violations through its toll-free short code, 3367.

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“LASTMA will therefore continue to collaborate with relevant government agencies to sustain enforcement, remove encumbrances and restore full functionality to such critical traffic facilities,” he said.

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