By Peter Dansu The proposed 27 bye-laws being considered by the Legislative Arm of Badagry Local Government remain under public scrutiny fo...
By Peter Dansu
The proposed 27 bye-laws being considered by the Legislative Arm of Badagry Local Government remain under public scrutiny following a public hearing held on Monday, February 9, 2026, where community members actively weighed the social, economic and cultural implications of the draft regulations.
The bye-laws, which are yet to be passed, cover wide areas including revenue generation, sanitation, transportation, chieftaincy affairs, community identity, tourism development and social welfare. Lawmakers explained that the objective is to modernise local governance, improve public order and strengthen internally generated revenue for development projects.
However, reactions from residents during and after the hearing reflected cautious support mixed with serious concerns over potential financial pressure on low-income earners and small businesses.
A major focus of the proposed framework is the introduction of multiple permits, levies and licensing systems affecting construction materials, kiosks and lock-up shops, entertainment activities, distribution outlets, public procurement and road cutting. While officials argued that the measures would boost the council’s revenue base, many participants warned against overlapping charges that could result in multiple taxation.
Traders and artisans noted that without a unified and transparent fee structure, the bye-laws risk worsening economic hardship rather than stimulating growth.
Public health-related regulations on market sanitation, abattoirs, school hygiene, waste management, food premises and public toilets drew broad approval, with many residents acknowledging the need for cleaner surroundings and improved disease prevention. Nonetheless, several speakers insisted that enforcement must be matched with investment in sanitation infrastructure to avoid unfair punishment of communities lacking basic facilities.
Transport regulations for commercial tricycles and motorcycles also generated mixed reactions. While some welcomed efforts to improve safety and order, riders’ unions expressed fears of revenue-driven enforcement, harassment and seizures that could threaten livelihoods.
Sensitive proposals on chieftaincy regulation and indigeneship identification were equally debated, with traditional leaders urging lawmakers to proceed cautiously to prevent politicisation of royal institutions and communal tensions.
One of the most progressive proposals, the bye-law on the rights and advanced welfare of children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities, received widespread commendation, alongside the tourism development initiative aimed at harnessing Badagry’s historical and coastal assets for economic growth.
Adding a structured citizen review to the growing public discourse, a concerned resident, Babajide Samuel Akran, submitted a formal feedback addressed to the Leader of the Legislative House, Hon. Asokere Mautin Bankole, urging the council to balance development goals with the economic realities of residents.
In his submission, Akran commended sanitation-focused bye-laws, the welfare protections for vulnerable groups and the tourism development initiative, describing them as timely and beneficial for the local government’s long-term progress.
However, he raised strong concerns over several proposed revenue-driven measures which he warned could place additional financial burden on households and micro businesses already affected by existing federal and state taxes.
Among those he highlighted were the infrastructural levy on building materials, regulation of commercial tricycles and motorcycles, permits for kiosks and lock-up shops, fees for events and road cutting, as well as new licenses and rates.
According to him, such measures could increase housing costs, threaten transport-based livelihoods and make everyday commercial activities more expensive for ordinary residents.
He also called for clearer explanations on certain bye-laws, including those on public procurement, jurisdiction permits, liquor regulation and alcohol consumption in specific areas, to avoid confusion and potential abuse.
Akran recommended that any new charges should remain affordable, include exemptions for low-income earners and small businesses, be introduced gradually with public education, and be backed by transparent use of revenue for visible community development such as roads and sanitation.
He further urged the legislative arm to hold targeted stakeholder engagements particularly on revenue-related bye-laws before any final passage.
Observers say the emerging feedback reflects a broader community sentiment that supports regulation and development but fears a pattern of aggressive revenue collection without corresponding service delivery.
As the Legislative Arm continues to collate submissions from residents and interest groups, the proposed bye-laws remain open for review and adjustment.
For many in Badagry, the process has become a defining moment for participatory governance, with hopes that the final laws will promote cleanliness, safety, investment and social protection while safeguarding livelihoods and community harmony.
The coming weeks are expected to determine whether the revised bye-laws will reflect the voices raised during the public hearing or deepen concerns across the local government.
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