Social Lifecycle Impact Assessment of Cocoyam Chips Hawking in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Hawking, an aggressive peddling of goods, is common wherever there is slow movement of traffics in many urban centres in Nigeria. The kinds of goods hawked varies from small consumable goods to relatively large sized electronics. Hawking activities have a number of social impacts on the hawkers, the consumers, the community, the value chain and the society. This study utilizing the 2009 UNEP/SETAC’s social lifecycle assessment (sLCA) guidelines and the associated sLCA methodological sheets evaluated the social impacts of cocoyam hawking on the peddlers, the consumers and the community. Preliminary results showed that it provides an alternative employment opportunity. It however has a high tendency for child labour and strenuous long hours of work. It also poses health and safety risks to peddlers, consumers and the community alike. The outcome of this study provides a platform for hawking policy development/regulation and for the minimization of the potential attendant consequences on the stakeholders.