A Lagos resident, Ogunbadejo Olawale has been arrested the state agencies for dumping waste on a busy road.
The man who is a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu was captured in a viral video illegally dumping refuse on the Alapere link bridge.
A coordinated enforcement operation by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, LAGESC/KAI, led to his arrest.
Following his arrest, Olawale was arraigned before the Environmental and Special Offences Court in Oshodi, which ordered his remand at Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The case has been adjourned to June 26, 2025, for further hearing.
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, condemned the continued violation of sanitation laws by some members of the public.
He reaffirmed the government’s resolve to clamp down on environmental offenders and maintain a cleaner, safer Lagos.
“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 effected 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,” he said.
Wahab stressed that environmental enforcement would be intensified across all local government areas, noting that surveillance activities were being upgraded and that 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.
Confirming the development, the Managing Director/CEO 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.
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26 Persons Convicted for Illegal Waste Disposal
LAWMA, LAGESC/KAI Arrest Man Sighted Dumping Waste on Busy Road (video)
