The Lagos State Ministry of Water and Environmental Services has imposed a community service sentence on a woman caught engaging in the indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The action was taken under the administration of Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, emphasizing that illegal refuse dumping remains a punishable offense.
The ministry issued a strong warning, declaring that the consequence for those caught engaging in indiscriminate refuse dumping would be to participate in the cleaning of several kilometers of roads in Lagos.
The official statement read, “With Commissioner @tokunbo_wahab, the new Sheriff in town, just drop refuse anyhow on the streets of Lagos and risk sweeping several kilometers of Lagos roads. Let’s be guided….this is real.”
In an accompanying video shared on the Environment Ministry’s account, a woman identified as Agnes Owolabi shared her experience.
Agnes disclosed that she was caught and faced a fine she couldn’t afford. As an alternative, she chose community service, agreeing to sweep long stretches of roads in Lagos.
Agnes expressed remorse and advised fellow Lagosians against indiscriminate refuse dumping, pledging not to repeat such offenses.
Her confession reads, “I ate inside the vehicle when I was taking my daughter to school. When we alighted at Jakande gate, I saw a refuse dump and dropped my pack of food there. That was where I was picked. I pleaded guilty because I know I was wrong. I could not afford the fine, so I was charged to community service. My advice to Lagosians is that they should quit dumping refuse in illegal places. For me, it will never happen again.”
With Commissioner @tokunbo_wahab the new Sheriff in town, just drop refuse anyhow on the streets of Lagos and risk sweeping several kilometres of Lagos roads.
Let's be guided….this is real❗#CleanerLagos pic.twitter.com/eiio1Pwprp
— Lagos State Environment Update (@enviupdatelasg) December 7, 2023
