Environmental Enforcement: Lagos arrests three for dumping trash

Lagos State Government has apprehended three individuals for unlawfully disposing of refuse on the median of Ikotun–Igando Road, in a move aimed at curbing persistent waste blackspots in the state.

The arrests were confirmed by Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who said the operation was carried out early Monday morning by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team.

The suspects, Muosolu Ogochukwu, 35; Adedigba Kazeem, 35; and Isaac Monday, 24, have been transferred to LAWMA’s legal team at the Oshodi Mobile Court for further legal proceedings.

Wahab reiterated the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental regulations and warned residents against indiscriminate dumping. “We will continue to ensure our streets and roads are free from illegal waste,” he said.

The commissioner noted that the operation is part of a series of crackdowns in December targeting illegal refuse disposal, which has become a recurring challenge across the state.

This follows other recent enforcement actions, including the arrest of a restaurant supervisor in Victoria Island for discharging untreated wastewater, fats, and oils into the environment, and the temporary closure of the facility.

Wahab emphasised that Lagos State authorities would maintain a robust enforcement presence to sustain cleanliness and public health, calling on residents to cooperate with LAWMA and the Environmental Sanitation Corps.