BY EKUNKONYE JUNIOR, ABUJA

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Hawkers, Prof. Ezekiel Babalola, has urged governments at all levels to recognise and support hawking as a legitimate and impactful trade that plays a vital role in poverty alleviation and grassroots empowerment.

In a press statement made available to media organisations, Babalola described hawking as a lifeline for thousands of Nigerians, especially among unemployed graduates and struggling families who rely on the trade to survive and support their livelihoods.

He acknowledged, however, that while hawking remains a crucial economic activity, it is often plagued by the exploitation of children and other vulnerable individuals, exposing them to safety and security risks. To tackle these concerns, he called on the government to endorse and support the union’s regulatory framework designed to dignify and organise the trade.

Babalola said the union’s goals include compiling a national database of hawkers with proper identification, offering social protection initiatives, and instituting a formalised bureaucratic process to monitor and regulate activities within the trade.

He stressed that with the right policies and institutional support, hawking can be transformed into a more structured, secure, and respected means of livelihood that would benefit the economy, while safeguarding those at its core.