… prosecutes scores for reckless waste dumping

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has arrested over 300 persons and prosecuted scores, for waste disposal infractions in a renewed offensive, through surveillance and investigative activities.

The arrests resulted through a collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), from day and night surveillance efforts, aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals and businesses involved in illegal dumping across the city.

Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, confirmed that the agency had deployed comprehensive strategies, including the use of surveillance teams and mobile enforcement units, to monitor environmental infractions and ensure compliance with sanitation laws.

He said, “Our night surveillance and enforcement team, working with LAGESC, has apprehended over 300 people for various waste-related infractions. Many have already been charged to court and many sentenced to community service. This will serve as a deterrent to those bent on derailing efforts of the Authority to sustain cleanliness of the environment”.

“I like to note some specific incidents, including the arrest of one Engr. Akinsola along Egbeda-Akowonjo Road at about 9:20pm on February 7, 2025. The individual was caught dumping waste at the road median, claiming to be a police officer during questioning. Investigations later revealed his residence had no waste bin and was not even registered with any Private Sector Participant (PSP) for proper waste disposal. He confessed to acting under the instruction of his landlord. Legal proceedings have commenced against him”.

“In another operation on Shasha Road, 25 individuals, including six car owners, were arrested for using personal vehicles to dump large quantities of waste at the fence of Abati Primary School. Similarly, a woman identified as Fatima was caught on February 5, 2025, at 10:37pm dumping waste near Micom Bus Stop along Akowonjo Road. Like others, her residence was not registered with any PSP. She is currently being prosecuted”, he stressed.

These arrests, according to him, revealed the scale of illegal dumping activities across the city, especially under cover of darkness, with the culprits claiming ignorance of the law or blaming their landlords.

Dr. Gbadegesin referenced Section 82(1) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, which prohibits waste dumping in unauthorised locations such as road medians, drains, and canals, noting that offenders risked fines of at least ₦25,000 and potential jail time under Section 109 of the same law.

“LAWMA will not relent in its mandate to make Lagos cleaner and safer for all. Enforcement is key, and we are leaving no stone unturned,” he insisted, adding that the Authority would continue to monitor, arrest and prosecute offenders.

He also noted that the agency runs continuous community sensitisation programs, to educate residents on proper waste disposal, and door-to-door campaigns, to promote patronage of PSP operators and ownership of waste bins under the ‘Adopt A Bin’ programme.

The LAWMA boss observed that new innovations, like the deployment of tricycle compactors and expansion of recycling programs, would help reduce the city’s dependence on dumpsites and improve access to waste collection in difficult-to-reach areas.

He called on residents to play their part by reporting erring neighbors or landlords, patronising only registered PSPs, and taking collective ownership of their environment.

“Our goal is to prevent avoidable issues like flooding and disease outbreaks. We can’t achieve this without the support of the people. Environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility, this is the era of, “See something, Say something” he concluded.

For complaints and inquiries, residents are encouraged to call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020 and 617, or visit www.lawma.gov.ng.

…urges public cooperation for a cleaner celebration

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a clean and hygienic environment across the state throughout the Easter celebrations, promising comprehensive waste management measures designed to effectively serve residents before, during, and after the holidays.

In a statement released from the Authority’s headquarters in Ijora-Olopa, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, assured Lagosians of seamless waste evacuation across all districts, noting that necessary operational resources had been deployed, to meet expected increase in waste generation during the period.

He said, “To ensure residents celebrate this year’s Easter in a clean atmosphere, we will be deploying trucks and personnel across the city. Our Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators have been directed to discharge their duties assiduously. LAWMA will also provide direct backup support where necessary to ensure zero waste accumulation.”

Gbadegesin admonished residents to bag their waste properly, engage only assigned PSP operators, and ensure prompt payment of waste bills to sustain service delivery, adding that the Authority would leave no stone unturned in its quest to achieve environmental sustainability.

He strongly advised residents against illegal dumping, reckless driving, and acts capable of compromising the environment during the celebrations, stressing the importance of public responsibility in realising a cleaner Lagos.

“The operations, street sweepers and sanitation teams will be actively working during the holidays. We urge motorists to be cautious and respect the rights and safety of our operations and sanitation workers. Let’s remember that keeping Lagos clean is a collective duty,” he added.

While wishing Lagosians a peaceful and clean Easter celebration, the LAWMA boss called on the public to take advantage of the agency’s customer support channels for any waste-related issues during the period.

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

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has organised a sensitisation workshop, for traders at its headquarters, Ijora-Olopa, during which it admonished markets in the state to take charge of the waste generated by them .

Themed “Hygienic Environment, Responsibility of All”, the workshop was attended by over 200 representatives of various markets located in the Lagos central district.

In his opening remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, represented by the head of Market Waste Services, Mrs. Aderonke Apena, noted that maintaining a clean and hygienic environment was a primary responsibility of the various markets.

He said, “A hygienic environment offers numerous benefits, primarily by reducing the risk of illness and infection, while also improving overall health and well-being. This includes a cleaner physical space, reduced stress and anxiety, and enhanced productivity. This gives us protection from water-borne diseases, other infections, and pollution. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to achieve a sustainable and healthy environment.”

“It starts from our homes. We are a reflection of what we do in our various homes. I will enjoin you to pay attention to the message of today’s workshop and apply it, both in your homes and your business places. Maintaining hygiene in a market place is very important. If a market is unhygienic, both the buyer and seller are at health risk. Let us all take proper responsibility of our environment”, he stressed.

Gbadegesin noted that the sensitisation workshop was premised on the Themes Plus agenda, where health and environment were placed side by side, stressing that failure to maintain proper hygiene in market places would have attendant negative consequences on public health and the environment .

According to him, “A market is a place where so many people visit on a daily basis, making it a veritable place for transmitting diseases, if proper sanitation is not carried out. A market should always be in a clean state. Therefore, it is important for market users to take waste management in the markets seriously, to avoid epidemics in the society “.

Speaking further on the role of traders towards ensuring proper hygiene in the markets, the LAWMA boss highlighted that proper waste containerisation should be prioritised, through bagging and separation of waste.

He observed that “Commingling of waste is unhygienic and improper. Waste emanating from the markets are of different types. There are food waste, animal waste, agricultural waste, recyclables and so on. All this waste should be properly bagged to avoid littering. We have held a series of meetings with leadership of markets on patronage of only LAWMA assigned PSP operators. It is illegal to patronise cart pushers.

He warned that LAWMA personnel had been assigned to all markets across the state, to ensure prompt payment for waste services, adding that it was important for markets to get bin keepers, to monitor and arrest illegal waste carriers who pollute the market environment.

On the recent closure of some markets for indiscriminate waste disposal, Gbadegesin noted that government did not take delight in shutting down markets, urging the traders to manage waste responsibly to prevent such measures.

Commenting on the benefit of the workshop, A trader from Folashade Tinubu Ojo Market, Suru Alaba, Mr. Lukman Ajadi, commended the Authority for organising the sensitisation workshop , adding that he had learnt a lot about proper waste separation and the benefits of recycling.

Another participant from Alayabiagba Market, Mrs. Chioma Kenneth, noted that the workshop was educative, urging the Authority to intensify night surveillance to apprehend suspected touts who engaged in illegal waste dumping in the markets.

For inquiries, complaints, or further updates, please contact LAWMA through the toll-free numbers: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, and 617, or visit www.lawma.gov.ng.