A Special Offences and Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi has convicted and sentenced 16 people to four months’ imprisonment each for illegal waste disposal and other environmental offences in Lagos State.
Gatekeepers News reports that the convictions followed their prosecution by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) for violating the state’s environmental sanitation laws.
In a statement, LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, said the court sentenced each offender to one month imprisonment on each of four counts, bringing the total jail term to four months.
According to Sanusi, the offences included indiscriminate waste disposal, failure to register with assigned Private Sector Participants (PSPs), violations of environmental sanitation regulations and other related infractions.
He explained that the offenders were apprehended during coordinated surveillance operations conducted by LAWMA’s enforcement team in Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Oworonshoki and Bariga.
The suspects were caught dumping refuse on road medians, drainage channels and other unauthorised locations.
“The convictions form part of LAWMA’s sustained enforcement drive aimed at eliminating indiscriminate waste disposal, strengthening compliance with environmental laws, and promoting a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos,” the statement said.
Reacting to the development, LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the convictions as a demonstration of the Lagos State Government’s determination to enforce environmental laws.
“The era of indiscriminate waste disposal without consequences is over. These convictions send a clear message that environmental laws will be enforced without fear or favour,” he said.
“We will continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement across the state to ensure compliance with approved waste management practices.”
Gbadegesin noted that while LAWMA remains committed to improving waste management infrastructure and service delivery, residents and businesses also have a legal responsibility to register with their designated PSP operators and dispose of waste through approved channels.
He stressed that effective waste management requires a collective effort, with the government strengthening infrastructure and enforcement while residents comply with environmental regulations.
The LAWMA boss added that the agency would sustain its surveillance, monitoring and enforcement operations across the state in collaboration with security and environmental agencies.
He also urged residents to support Lagos’ environmental sustainability drive by adhering to approved waste disposal practices and reporting incidents of illegal waste dumping through LAWMA’s official communication channels.
