The Lagos Waste Management Authority has secured the conviction of 16 individuals for violating environmental laws after they were arraigned before the Oshodi Special Offences and Mobile Court over illegal waste disposal in different parts of the state.
The offenders were prosecuted for dumping refuse at unauthorised locations across Lagos and were each sentenced to four months’ imprisonment. The jail term comprises one month on each of four counts, including indiscriminate waste disposal, failure to register with assigned Private Sector Participants, contravention of environmental sanitation regulations, and other related offences.
The Punch reported that the development was disclosed in a statement issued by LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi.
According to Sanusi, the offenders were apprehended by the agency’s enforcement team during coordinated monitoring operations carried out along Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Oworonshoki and Bariga.
He said the suspects were caught dumping refuse on road medians, drainage channels and other prohibited locations in violation of Lagos State environmental laws.
“The convictions form part of LAWMA’s sustained enforcement drive aimed at eliminating indiscriminate waste disposal, strengthening compliance with environmental laws, and promoting a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos,” Sanusi said.
Reacting to the court’s decision, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the convictions as evidence of the Lagos State Government’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and protecting public health.
“The era of indiscriminate waste disposal without consequences is over. These convictions send a clear message that environmental laws will be enforced without fear or favour. We will continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement across the state to ensure compliance with approved waste management practices,” Gbadegesin said.
He stressed that although LAWMA remained focused on improving waste management infrastructure and enhancing service delivery, residents and business owners also had a legal responsibility to register with their designated PSP operators and dispose of waste through approved channels.
According to him, maintaining a clean environment requires collective responsibility, adding that government would continue to improve waste management services and enforce environmental laws while residents and businesses comply with existing regulations.
“Effective waste management is a shared responsibility, stressing that the government will continue to strengthen waste management infrastructure, improve service delivery, and enforce environmental laws, but residents and businesses must also play their part by patronising their assigned PSP operators, complying with environmental regulations and refraining from indiscriminate waste disposal.”
Gbadegesin added that LAWMA would sustain its surveillance, monitoring and enforcement activities across Lagos in collaboration with relevant security and environmental agencies to curb environmental offences and maintain a cleaner state.
He also encouraged residents to support the state’s environmental sustainability efforts by adhering to approved waste disposal methods and reporting incidents of illegal dumping and other environmental violations through LAWMA’s official communication channels.
