A Lagos resident, Christopher Musa, has backed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s call for vulnerable Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses but said strict enforcement against roadside trading in Lagos makes the advice difficult to implement.
According to an interview aired by Trust TV on Sunday, July 5, 2026, Musa was reacting to the First Lady’s suggestion that Nigerians could earn a living by selling items such as akara, roasted corn and kulikuli.
While describing the advice as well-intentioned, he noted that many of the businesses mentioned are commonly operated by roadside traders who are frequently targeted by Lagos task force officials.
“The First Lady made a good comment about selling akara because the business is helping many Nigerians in this country. But if you look at the situation in Lagos State, we have task force officers who are arresting people,” Musa said.
He argued that the situation discourages many low-income earners from starting informal businesses, as traders without shops risk having their goods confiscated or being removed from the streets. Musa called for greater policy support and a more accommodating environment to help small-scale traders operate legally and sustainably.
