In a sweeping crackdown on illegal waste disposal, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), has arrested over 300 individuals and prosecuted several offenders in a renewed offensive against environmental lawlessness.
According to a press statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Folashade Kadiri (Mrs) it states that through intensified day and night surveillance operations, mobile enforcement units, and undercover investigations, LAWMA tracked and apprehended individuals and businesses engaged in reckless waste dumping across Lagos.
Confirming the arrests, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the campaign is part of a broader strategy to safeguard the city’s cleanliness and enforce strict compliance with sanitation laws.
“Our night surveillance teams, in partnership with LAGESC, have apprehended over 300 people for various waste-related offences. Many have already been prosecuted and sentenced to community service, serving as a clear warning to others,” he stated.
Among the notable incidents was the arrest of one Engr. Akinsola, caught dumping waste at a road median along Egbeda-Akowonjo Road on the night of February 7. Claiming to be a police officer, he was later found to be unregistered with any licensed waste handler. Investigations revealed he acted on his landlord’s instructions. Legal proceedings are ongoing.
In a separate incident, 25 people, including six car owners, were caught using their vehicles to illegally dump waste by the fence of Abati Primary School on Shasha Road. Similarly, a woman identified as Fatima was arrested at 10:37 pm on February 5 for dumping refuse near Micom Bus Stop, also without proper waste disposal registration.
LAWMA emphasized that the clampdown will continue, warning that no offender will go unpunished as the state intensifies efforts to uphold environmental standards and public hygiene.
LAWMA Vows Zero Tolerance as Crackdown Exposes Widespread Illegal Waste Dumping
LAWMA has disclosed that the recent arrests of over 300 individuals for waste-related offences have exposed the alarming scale of illegal dumping across the city—particularly under the cover of night. Offenders, many of whom pleaded ignorance or blamed uncooperative landlords, were caught discarding refuse in unauthorized locations, a clear violation of the state’s environmental laws.
Speaking on the issue, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, referenced Section 82(1) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, which prohibits dumping in road medians, canals, and drains. He warned that violators face a minimum fine of ₦25,000 and possible imprisonment under Section 109.
“LAWMA will not relent in making Lagos cleaner and safer,” Dr. Gbadegesin asserted. “Enforcement is essential. We’re monitoring, arresting, and prosecuting offenders without compromise.”
Beyond enforcement, he emphasized LAWMA’s commitment to proactive solutions. The Authority is scaling up citywide community sensitization and door-to-door campaigns promoting the ‘Adopt-A-Bin’ initiative, encouraging households to own bins and partner with licensed Private Sector Participants (PSPs).
To bolster waste collection in challenging areas, the agency is also introducing tricycle compactors and expanding recycling efforts to reduce reliance on landfills and promote sustainability.
Dr. Gbadegesin called on residents to take responsibility for their environment by patronizing only registered PSPs, reporting illegal waste disposal, and joining efforts to prevent hazards such as flooding and disease outbreaks.
“This is the era of ‘See Something, Say Something,’” he said. “Environmental protection is a shared duty—we need everyone on board.”
For inquiries or to report infractions, residents are urged to contact LAWMA via toll-free numbers: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, or 617, or visit www.lawma.gov.ng.
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