A 56-year-old Lagos resident, Adebayo Samson, has been sentenced to one month imprisonment for illegal waste disposal.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority ,LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in a statement, saying the Authority secured the conviction after Samson was caught illegally dumping refuse along the PWD axis of Agege Motor Road, Lagos.
Gbadegesin said the offender was apprehended by LAWMA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Team for violating the environmental laws of Lagos State.
He explained that the suspect was arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, where he pleaded guilty to the offence and was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment.
Dr. Gbadegesin described indiscriminate waste disposal as a serious environmental offence that undermines the Lagos State Government’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable environment.
He warned that anyone found disposing of waste on roads, road medians, drainage channels, open spaces or any other unauthorised location would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“I must emphasise that anyone found disposing of waste on roads, road medians, drainage channels, open spaces or any other unauthorised location will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law. There will be no exceptions,” he said.
The LAWMA boss urged residents to patronise only their assigned Private Sector Participant ,PSP, operators and dispose of their waste through approved channels, stressing that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility.
He assured residents that the Authority would continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement operations across the state in collaboration with relevant agencies to curb illegal waste disposal and promote responsible environmental practices that protect public health and preserve the environment.
Dr. Gbadegesin also encouraged residents to report cases of indiscriminate waste disposal and other environmental violations through LAWMA’s official communication channels for prompt investigation and enforcement.
He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to the strict enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, noting that residents’ compliance remains essential to achieving a cleaner, safer and more liveable Lagos.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh