… Commemorates World Environment Day 2025The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has urged residents to embrace proper waste management, to ensure a clean and healthy environment during and after this year’s Id-el-Kabir celebration.In a statement released on Wednesday, the Managing Director/CEO Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, assured residents that extensive provisions have been made to handle the anticipated increase in waste generation throughout the Sallah period, noting that waste management services would be provided across all designated routes, ensuring seamless evacuation of refuse in every part of the city.He said, “Eid-el-Kabir is a season of joy, gratitude, and communal harmony. While residents celebrate with their families and loved ones, we must all remain mindful of our civic duties, especially in relation to the environment. Proper handling and disposal of animal waste, food remnants, and packaging materials are non-negotiable if we are to maintain the standards of hygiene we all desire.”He said that LAWMA officials and enforcement teams, would be monitoring field operations and waste disposal activities around the metropolis, to ensure compliance with best practices, during and after the festivities.Gbadegesin appealed to residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians, drainage channels, and open spaces, stressing that such actions compromised public health and would attract penalties, urging butchers and livestock dealers to make use of approved slaughter facilities across the state, to minimise contamination and maintain sanitary standards in line with public health regulations.While wishing the Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyful celebration, Gbadegesin reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness, not just during festive periods but throughout the year, appealing to Lagosians to support the Authority’s efforts by bagging their waste properly, containerising and ensuring timely evacuation through assigned PSP operators.In a related development, LAWMA has joined its counterparts across the globe to commemorate 2025 World Environment Day, marked every 5th June. This year’s theme, “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution”, places emphasis on the urgent need to save the environment from the dangers of plastic pollution.The LAWMA boss noted that the theme resonated deeply with the agency’s ongoing mission to transform Lagos into a cleaner and healthier city, by tackling the menace of plastic pollution, adding that environmental restoration was not a one-time event but a sustained process that began with individual choices and community-based action.He stated further that LAWMA had commenced a series of advocacy and clean-up initiatives in collaboration with environment stakeholders, schools, and community-based organisations, aimed at encouraging environmental ownership at the grassroots level, calling on market associations, religious leaders, and neighborhood groups, to help educate their members on how small daily actions, such as clearing gutters, separating recyclables, or discouraging street dumping, could lead to meaningful and positive long-term ecological impact.He concluded by stressing that World Environment Day 2025 offered an opportunity for every Lagos resident to recommit to building a healthier and more sustainable future, urging all stakeholders to reflect on the consequences of environmental neglect and join hands with government agencies to restore and protect the ecosystem that sustains lives and livelihoods in the state.For further information or to report any waste management issues, residents are advised to contact LAWMA through its official lines: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020 or 617 or send an email to info@lawma.gov.ng.

… Offender remanded in Kirikiri till June 26

A joint enforcement team, comprising officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI), has arrested Mr. Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, caught in a viral video dumping waste on Alapere link bridge, Ketu. He has been remanded at the Kirikiri Prison by the Environmental and Special Offences Court, sitting at Oshodi, with case adjourned till 26th June 2025.

Speaking on the matter, the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, expressed deep concern over the continued disregard for environmental regulations by some residents, emphasising that the state government would not relent in its efforts to identify and prosecute individuals who violate sanitation laws.

He said, “The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to environmental enforcement with the arrest of Mr. Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No 25, Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, for illegal waste dumping. The arrest was effected by a joint enforcement operation carried out by the operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), following credible surveillance and tip-offs from members of the community.”

Wahab stressed that environmental enforcement would be intensified across all local government areas, noting that surveillance activities were being upgraded and that defaulters would be prosecuted without hesitation, warning that the era of impunity was over, as no one is above the law.

“We have launched a multi-agency collaboration involving LAWMA, LAGESC/KAI, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. Let this serve as a stern warning to others: Residents must comply with the state’s waste management guidelines or face legal consequences,” he added.

The Commissioner urged community leaders, residents, and environmental volunteers to remain vigilant and continue to work with the state in reporting infractions, assuring that such civic efforts would be matched with swift action from government agencies.

Confirming the development, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, condemned the offender’s action and reiterated the Authority’s unwavering resolve to stamp out illegal waste disposal practices.

“This arrest is a strong message to those who persist in sabotaging the state’s environmental agenda. Lagos is not a dumping ground. We have invested heavily in infrastructure and personnel to maintain cleanliness across the metropolis. Anyone caught polluting public spaces will face the full weight of the law. The days of indiscriminate waste disposal are over,” he said.

Gbadegesin also acknowledged the crucial role played by residents of the Alapere community in bringing the incident to light, calling it a prime example of citizen-driven environmental vigilance.

“The success of our enforcement drive is deeply rooted in community partnership. I want to sincerely thank the residents of Alapere for their vigilance. Their input led to this arrest, and it demonstrates that when citizens and government work together, positive change is inevitable. Let us remain committed to protecting our environment for today and for future generations,” he added.

He assured Lagosians that LAWMA, in collaboration with relevant sister agencies, would continue to scale up enforcement, advocacy, and community engagement initiatives to ensure total compliance with waste management laws.

The LAWMA boss appealed to residents to embrace proper waste disposal practices, use PSP operators, and avoid patronising outlawed cart pushers, warning that all offenders would be tracked, arrested, and prosecuted as part of the state’s holistic environmental management strategy.

Also speaking, the Corps Marshal of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI), Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd), stated that the law would continue to catch up with individuals engaging in acts that deface and endanger the environment, describing the suspect’s action as reckless and counterproductive to the state’s environmental sustainability efforts.

“We are scaling up patrols and intelligence gathering, especially in areas prone to illegal dumping. No one who violates environmental laws will go unpunished. The long arm of the law will find you. I urge all residents to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal, as this threatens public health, damages infrastructure, and erodes the government’s commitment to a cleaner Lagos,” he said.

He further encouraged Lagosians to be law-abiding and to make use of approved waste disposal services to avoid legal consequences.

For waste management-related issues, complaints, and inquiries, please call LAWMA’s toll-free numbers: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, and 617, or send an email to info@lawma.gov.ng.

… to roll out CNG trucks, drone surveillance, community recycling centres, and waste recovery facilities

The managing director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has issued a strong warning to property owners and residents across the state, to keep their surroundings clean or face stiff penalties, including possible loss of property.

He gave the warning during an interview on Lagos Talks 91.3FM on Monday, noting that a clean environment was a shared responsibility, not just the duty of government, adding that any activity generating waste illegally on land was prohibited, and people should be responsible for their lands or property.

He further stressed that tenants and occupants, who were not landowners, also had a legal obligation to maintain cleanliness in their immediate environment. In his words: “Even if you are not the owner, but you are living in the property, you must keep the surrounding clean. LAWMA cannot clean your frontage for you.

That responsibility falls squarely on residents”. Gbadegesin also disclosed that the Authority would soon introduce the use of drones to monitor waste disposal activities and curb indiscriminate dumping. He said: “The waste collection system is sacrosanct and will always be managed by Nigerians. Even with new opportunities, Nigerians are leading the way because we live here and understand the local challenges. Starting a business in this area is not cheap, but Nigerians have a strong drive, and once we see the value in something, we put our full effort into it. The only issue is that many people didn’t recognise the potential in waste management.” On challenges facing Private Sector Participants (PSPs), the LAWMA boss noted: “Despite many residents fulfilling their payment obligations, a significant number are still not complying, making it difficult for PSPs to recoup operational costs. As regulators, we have developed solutions, including supporting PSPs with new CNG-powered trucks to enhance operational efficiency and reduce costs.” He said LAWMA was significantly expanding its recycling programs across the state, with hundreds of recycling companies now offering door-to-door collection of recyclable waste, adding that the authority had also introduced community recycling centres where residents could exchange recyclables for incentives. He noted that LAWMA remained committed to effective management of about 13,000 tons of waste generated daily in the state through various initiatives and infrastructure projects, adding that the authority had signed a memorandum of understanding with Zoomlion Nigeria to close two major dumpsites — Olusosun at Ojota and Solous 3 in Igando, within 18 months. “We will build transfer loading stations at both dumpsites to divert waste to new material recovery facilities. From Ojota, we will divert waste to a material recovery facility in Ikorodu, and from Igando to Badagry. These facilities will process 2,500 tons of waste each and feature equipment that automatically separates metals, plastics, textiles and similar materials. With these facilities, you won’t see or smell waste. Our plan is also to place solar panels on these sites to generate electricity for the surrounding facilities”, he stated. To enhance compliance and community engagement, the LAWMA boss said the Authority was strengthening partnerships with residential associations, such as the Lekki Phase 1 Residents Association (LERA), to crack down on illegal waste disposal, reiterating that maintaining a clean environment required a collective effort between the agency and residents. “LAWMA deploys 17,000 street sweepers covering 1,000 routes, but this doesn’t cover every street in the state. Residents should also support the effort by keeping their frontage and surroundings clean. If we all do the right thing daily and weekly, we will have a cleaner city. As we say, ‘Igbega Ipinle Eko, Ajumose gbogbo wa ni’ – the state’s development and progress is a collective effort”, he concluded.