Despite repeated government warnings and enforcement campaigns, roadside dumping of refuse continues across major routes in Lagos, creating obstructions and health concerns in several neighbourhoods.
Along major corridors such as Ijesha, Sanya, Cele and Akewukewe within the Mushin, Surulere and Oshodi-Isolo areas heaps of waste now line the edges of express roads where motorists and pedestrians pass daily.
The Guardian observed on Monday morning, piles of plastic bags, food remnants and construction debris were seen dumped directly on the road median and drains, reducing space for vehicles and blocking water channels.
The Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017 prohibits illegal dumping of refuse on public roads, with penalties of up to ₦250,000 or three months’ imprisonment. Despite this, the practice has persisted in many high-traffic areas.
In June 2025, the state government launched a renewed “zero tolerance” campaign against roadside dumping and other environmental violations.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has led several enforcement operations since then.
On June 17, Wahab confirmed the arrest of a man caught dumping waste along Ikorodu Road. “This act obstructs traffic flow and damages public infrastructure. The offender has been charged under environmental laws,” he said.
Earlier, on June 11, officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) arrested two offenders along the Ikorodu–Itowolo highway for roadside dumping, seizing their vehicle. Five more people were detained in May along Ajasa Command Road for similar offences.
According to LAWMA data, more than 50 arrests were recorded between April and September 2025 across different parts of Lagos.
In July, six offenders including market traders and transport workers were prosecuted for dumping refuse along major roads. On October 4, five traders were arrested near Cele for sanitation offences during an early morning operation involving three enforcement vehicles.
Speaking on recent developments, Wahab said enforcement would be sustained to keep public roads clear. “We will not allow anyone to turn expressways into dumpsites. Our officers are on daily patrol, and offenders will face prosecution,” he said.
Motorists in Sanya and Cele confirmed that refuse heaps often appear overnight. A commercial driver said on Saturday that he regularly sees “bags of dirt dropped on the express” before dawn, causing traffic obstruction and unpleasant odours by morning
The Ministry of Environment said surveillance teams and waste trucks have been deployed to clear existing heaps and monitor dumping spots along major corridors, including Apapa–Oshodi, Ikorodu, and Badagry roads.
Officials urged residents and traders to use registered waste operators and report roadside dumping to LAWMA or the Environmental Sanitation Corps.
The state government maintained that keeping Lagos roads clean remains a collective responsibility, as continuous dumping worsens drainage blockages and increases flooding risks during the rainy season.
