In its ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws and promote proper waste management, the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has sanctioned 128 residents and 20 industries for indiscriminate waste disposal across the state.

The residents, apprehended in Sango-Ota, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Papalanto, and Abeokuta, were sentenced to hours of community service after being caught dumping waste on road medians and other public places. Similarly, 20 industries were penalized after their trucks were caught disposing waste along road verges on the Lagos-Ibadan and Sagamu-Abeokuta expressways.

In a statement, the Special Adviser and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Abayomi Hunye, said the offenders were nabbed in the early hours of the day by the authority’s enforcement squad.

He stressed that their actions violated state environmental laws and undermined government efforts to keep Ogun clean.

“What is of concern is the fact that those apprehended were deliberately determined to sabotage the state government’s efforts at keeping the state clean, as they refused to patronize government-approved waste collectors in their communities and companies for no just cause,” Hunye said.

He added that such conduct not only disobeys lawful government directives but also endangers the health and safety of law-abiding residents who have embraced proper waste management practices.

Hunye further assured that OGWAMA’s enforcement team would continue to monitor public spaces and roadsides to apprehend recalcitrant individuals and companies, particularly during the rainy season when indiscriminate dumping could lead to flooding and water contamination in wetland areas.

He commended residents and industries that have remained compliant with waste management regulations, disclosing that the agency will soon launch its “Blue Box Initiative”, which will allow residents to exchange recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, and metals for monetary value.