Officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment dismantle a roadside kiosk on Oregun Road. The government is fighting hard to return the city to its old beautiful look after years of being over run by illegal construction.
It is a battle which has earned it the ire of citizens. Many people set up kiosks just so they can be able to get by during times of economic crunch. These shops also serve to employ a lot of people all over the state. When you put them out of work, how do you hope to get people employed?
How will they pay their taxes? How will they be kept off the streets and off crime?
The numerous problems and contradictions facing developing countries.
3 comments:
What do the kiosks sell, may I ask?
I've bought biscuits and phone credit in the kiosk in this particular picture before. Several others sell small items like stationery, food,and sundry other small stuff that serves to augment their income.
Hi, I just found your photo blog. It's great to see some pictures from Lagos.
I visited in Lagos in 2002, and I loved these kiosks. They may not look like the shops in London or Paris or wherever it is the powerful people of Lagos like to spend money, but apart from that, what's wrong with them?
I remember buying stuff like biscuits, cigarettes, powdered milk, batteries or washing powder from kiosks. For me, it was easier there than at a proper market, because being an ignorant Oyibo from Europe, I didn't really have the skills to "prize" stuff. At least the kiosks seem to have fixed prices, more or less.
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