The Lagos State Government has declared a stringent crackdown on illegal waste disposal, imposing a fine of ₦250,000 or a jail term of up to three months for offenders caught dumping refuse unlawfully or littering public spaces. The announcement was made by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, at a media briefing on Tuesday.
Wahab warned that “serial offenders will face even stiffer punishments,” emphasizing the government’s resolve to enforce environmental laws strictly. He stated, “We won’t drop the ball. We would continue to ramp up our enforcement and sensitisation,” underscoring the Ministry’s commitment to a cleaner Lagos.
The Ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, released a statement reiterating the ban on cart pushers, who are often responsible for indiscriminate waste dumping. Wahab cautioned residents, saying, “Residents should desist from patronising them and always patronise registered PSP.”
The Commissioner also condemned developers who dump building materials on drains or roads, threatening that such sites “will be sealed up and the owners prosecuted.” Over 3,000 offenders have already been prosecuted, but Wahab insists this is “just the beginning.”
Enforcement teams from LAWMA, KAI, and other agencies are working around the clock to “arrest, prosecute, name, and shame” violators. The government is also addressing issues like open defecation and petty crime on pedestrian bridges, which Wahab said “dissuade pedestrians from using the bridges and in turn endanger lives.”
In preparation for the July 1 enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics, part of World Environment Day efforts, Wahab declared, “There is no going back. After an 18-month moratorium to producers, distributors and users, the ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam food packs will be enforced.”
As the Eid-el-Kabir festivities approach, Wahab urged residents to manage waste responsibly, stating, “All generated wastes should be sorted, bagged, and handed over to the approved PSP operators across all the wards in the state.” He concluded with a call for collective responsibility: “The government has done its part. Now residents must do theirs.”
