A joint enforcement team, comprising officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI), has arrested Mr. Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, caught in a viral video dumping waste on the Alapere link bridge, Ketu.
According to the state’s Environment and Water Resources commissioner, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Environmental and Special Offences Court, sitting at Oshodi, has remanded him at the Kirikiri Prison, adjourning the case until 26 June 2025.
Wahab expressed deep concern over some residents’ continued disregard for environmental regulations, emphasising that the state government would not relent in its efforts to identify and prosecute individuals who violate sanitation laws.
He said, “The Lagos State government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to environmental enforcement with the arrest of Mr. Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25, Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, for illegal waste dumping. The arrest was affected by a joint enforcement operation carried out by the operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI), following credible surveillance and tip-offs from members of the community.”
Wahab stressed that environmental enforcement would be intensified across all local government areas, noting that surveillance activities were being upgraded and defaulters would be prosecuted without hesitation, warning that the era of impunity was over, as no one is above the law.
“We have launched a multi-agency collaboration involving LAWMA, LAGESC/KAI, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. Let this serve as a stern warning to others: Residents must comply with the state’s waste management guidelines or face legal consequences,” he added.
The Commissioner urged community leaders, residents, and environmental volunteers to remain vigilant and continue to work with the state in reporting infractions, assuring that such civic efforts would be matched with swift action from government agencies.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, condemned the offender’s action and reiterated the Authority’s unwavering resolve to stamp out illegal waste disposal practices.
“This arrest is a strong message to those who persist in sabotaging the state’s environmental agenda. Lagos is not a dumping ground. We have invested heavily in infrastructure and personnel to maintain cleanliness across the metropolis. Anyone caught polluting public spaces will face the full weight of the law. The days of indiscriminate waste disposal are over,” he said.
