The Lagos State Government has arraigned five individuals before a mobile court in Oshodi for allegedly dumping refuse in prohibited areas. The suspects, identified as Sunday Chidiebere, Favour Odoh, Daniel Okunola, Michael Obi, and Amaka Abel, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos Waste Management Authority along Ago Palace Way in the Okota area of Lagos. According to Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects were caught dumping waste along the median and have been taken to court for prosecution.
In a similar incident, five other individuals were arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Oshodi for allegedly dumping refuse into a canal along the Igando-Iba Road Link Bridge. The suspects, Quassim Jamiu, Ayo Jamiu, Alexander Innocent, Oparinde Taiwo, and Moses Adelowokan, were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps in collaboration with security personnel. The court ordered their remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the next hearing scheduled for July 9.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining environmental sanity and ensuring offenders face the full weight of the law. According to Commissioner Wahab, the penalty for illegal waste dumping includes a fine of N250,000 and three months imprisonment. The government has also emphasized that it has provided Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators across all wards to evacuate waste from homes and neighborhoods for a fee.
The government’s crackdown on indiscriminate waste dumping comes as part of its efforts to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment. The state has been working to enforce environmental laws and regulations, and the recent arrests are a testament to this commitment. As the cases progress, the government is expected to demonstrate its resolve to prosecute offenders and protect the environment.
