Traders Turn Berger Lay-By into Busy Market

The Berger lay-by in Lagos State was meant to be a quick stop for vehicles. But now, it has become a busy market, with traders selling food, drinks, clothes, phone accessories, and more.

This change has given traders a way to make money and helped commuters get goods easily. But it has also raised worries about traffic jams, safety, and how the lay-by is used.

A visit by PUNCH Metro on Monday showed traders displaying their goods while cars passed through the busy Berger area.

Kingsley Ifeanyi, who has sold FanMilk ice cream and other items there for nine years, said the place helps him reach customers easily.

Besides ice cream, Ifeanyi sells snacks and runs a Point-of-Sale service. He said he usually makes about N20,000 on a good day, though sales drop during the rainy season.

"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.

He noted that customers like buying from roadside traders because they can negotiate prices.

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

Another trader, who sells snacks and fast food but did not want to give his name, has been in the area for over four years.

He said his earnings change, estimating that he can make between N5,000 and N10,000 some days.

"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.

He thinks the popularity of roadside food vendors comes from convenience, especially for busy commuters.

"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.

But he noted that sales have dropped lately because people have less cash to spend.

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

For some traders, working at the lay-by means dealing with officials who enforce regulations.

Morenikeji Olanrewaju, who has been selling there since 2022, said poor enforcement by the Lagos State Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade is a big problem.

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

She added that customers come to the area because prices are lower than in supermarkets.

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

A Point-of-Sale operator, Blessing Egu, who has been there for three years, also said convenience attracts customers.

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

But Egu mentioned fraud as a big challenge for PoS operators.

"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.

She also noted that not having enough capital can make running a PoS business tough.

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

A clothing seller named Darlington, who has been selling for less than six months, said people come to roadside traders because goods are cheaper.

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

He added that one challenge is meeting what customers want and convincing them to buy, especially with rising prices affecting spending.

"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.

Describing 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."

A phone accessories seller, who also wanted to remain unnamed, has been in the area for three to four years.

He said enforcement by KAI officials is a major challenge as well.

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

He mentioned that many customers prefer roadside vendors for convenience and to save time.

"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.

For some commuters, the traders are a help, not a hindrance.

Olufemi Ogunsola, a commuter, said the traders provide useful services for people passing through.

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

But the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority warned that more traders in the Berger lay-by are causing problems.

The agency’s spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, told PUNCH Metro that the traders were blocking traffic and creating jams.

"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.

Adebayo said LASTMA and other agencies have done several enforcement operations in the area.

He mentioned that traders blocking the road and bus operators breaking traffic rules have been caught and taken to Mobile Courts.

He added that the agency is working with transport unions to stop their members from picking up and dropping off passengers along the road.

According to LASTMA, these actions cause traffic issues and threaten the safety of commuters and drivers.

He said the agency will keep working with other agencies to remove blockages and restore the lay-by's full use.

He urged traders, transport operators, and others to stop doing things that can harm traffic flow and safety.

Adebayo also said the public can report illegal trading and other road issues through its toll-free number, 3367.

"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.