Environmental violations: LAWMA nabs 65, man, 15, teenager, others, seals properties

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has arrested two suspects and sealed properties across Alimosho Local Government Area and adjoining Local Council Development Areas over environmental violations.

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The operations, carried out by the Authority’s Project W.I.S.E (West) enforcement team, targeted indiscriminate waste disposal, illegal dumping, and activities contributing to environmental degradation across the Ikotun axis and surrounding communities.

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During a night surveillance operation, a 15-year-old boy, identified as Chukwudi Opara, was apprehended for illegally dumping waste at the Ikotun-Egbe roundabout at about 10:00 p.m., and was subsequently handed over to the task force office in Oshodi for appropriate action.

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In a related development, the enforcement team sealed a car lot located at Iroko Estate, LASU-Isheri Road, for discharging waste into the drainage, while a furniture showroom was also sealed for similar environmental infractions.

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An intention-to-seal notice was equally issued to a mini store at Diamond Estate for failure to patronise a registered Private Sector Participant (PSP) operator in violation of established waste management regulations.

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The enforcement drive also followed a public complaint from residents of Kaslat/Sarumi Street in Alimosho over the use of a gated undeveloped plot as an illegal dumpsite by cart pushers who burned waste on the premises, prompting LAWMA to seal the property and arrest a 65-year-old security guard, Abubakar Yunusa, found to be complicit in the activity.

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The Managing Director, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who confirmed the development, reiterated the authority’s commitment to sustaining enforcement operations across the state aimed at curbing environmental violations and promote public health.

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He stressed that indiscriminate dumping of waste, burning of refuse, and patronage of illegal waste handlers remained serious offences under Lagos State environmental laws and would not be tolerated.

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Gbadegesin, who vowed that the suspects would be prosecuted, therefore, urged residents to take responsibility for proper waste disposal by patronising only LAWMA-accredited PSP operators and reporting environmental infractions through official channels.

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He further assured that the authority would continue to respond promptly to public complaints and strengthen collaboration with communities to maintain a cleaner and safer Lagos.

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