The Lagos Waste Management Authority has arrested several cart pushers for illegally dumping waste along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway in Ojo, as part of efforts to curb environmental degradation in the area.
In a statement on Saturday, the Director of Public Affairs, LAWMA, Mr. Mukaila Sanusi, said the arrests followed the discovery of an unauthorized dumpsite during a routine monitoring exercise by the agency’s Waste Investigation, Surveillance and Enforcement Team.
“The arrests were made after our enforcement team discovered an unauthorised dumpsite along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway during a routine monitoring exercise,” Sanusi stated.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, condemned the activities of unregulated waste handlers, saying they pose serious environmental risks. “Waste disposal through unregulated handlers degrades the environment and undermines the structured waste management system put in place by the Lagos State Government,” he said.
Gbadegesin reiterated that domestic waste collection in Lagos is “exclusively handled by registered Private Sector Participation operators” and warned residents against patronising cart pushers and other unauthorised collectors.
He assured that surveillance and enforcement activities would continue across identified flashpoints, stressing that offenders would be prosecuted. “Those involved in illegal dumping will be arrested and prosecuted,” the LAWMA boss stated.
The agency also issued a warning on its official social media handle, noting that surveillance and enforcement are ongoing across Lagos to address illegal dumping driven largely by unregulated waste handlers.
Residents were advised to bag their waste properly, register with approved PSP operators, and report cases of illegal dumping through LAWMA’s official channels.
