Lagos State authorities take legal action against more than 8,000 individuals violating environmental laws within a 12-month period

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Gov Sanwo-Olu

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By Olasunkanmi Akoni

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The Lagos State Government has revealed that more than 8,000 residents have been prosecuted in the past year for environmental violations, including open defecation, as part of a sustained effort to improve sanitation across the state.

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Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Tuesday during a television interview, outlining the government’s dual approach of enforcement and behavioural change.

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Wahab emphasized that while penalties are necessary, the state prioritizes changing mindsets over relying solely on fear-driven compliance. “If you put the penalty first, that means you put the cart before the horse. Once people take ownership, introducing sanctions becomes easier,” he said.

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The commissioner lamented that some residents remain deliberately defiant despite the availability of sanitation facilities. Lagos has over 1,710 public toilets, with an additional 8,000 across eateries and gas stations, yet some individuals continue to defecate in open spaces.

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He cited Berger as an example where enforcement actions have led to a noticeable shift in behaviour. “At Berger, there are modern public toilets, but people deliberately chose the median between Lagos and Ogun to defecate. When we started enforcement and arrests, the narrative changed,” Wahab noted.

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On infrastructure, Wahab highlighted ongoing improvements in waste management through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), including increasing bins and transitioning from a linear disposal model to a circular, resource-based system. Plans are underway to decommission major landfills such as Olusosun and Solous 3 within 18–24 months, while expanding new facilities in Epe and Badagry, aiming to reduce landfill waste to less than 5%.

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He also discussed technology-driven initiatives to manage flooding, including AI-powered early warning systems and round-the-clock operations by the state’s Flood Abatement Gang.

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Wahab reiterated that practices such as waste burning remain illegal and that air quality monitors are being deployed statewide to ensure compliance and protect public health.

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While acknowledging that behavioural change takes time, the commissioner stressed that sustained advocacy, infrastructure investment, and enforcement will ultimately transform sanitation practices across Lagos. “We are not going to get there overnight. But if we don’t build the right culture now, all the investments we are making will be eaten up by bad behaviour,” he said.

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