Lagos prosecutes 5,000 environmental offenders in six months

Lagos State government, through its Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), has prosecuted about 5,000 offenders in the last six months and generated millions of naira to the state’s coffers.

The Corps Marshal, Major Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), disclosed this at the Lagos West Senatorial District Stakeholders and Engagement Meeting at the Multi-Agency Safety Arena Complex, Bolade Oshodi, Lagos.

The revelation is coming when the agency has increased enforcement and campaign for environmental protection in the state.

Olatunbosun said the prosecution further reinforced the agency’s zeal to rid the state of environmental infractions while constantly monitoring the environs to make Lagos State habitable for business.

He lamented that illegal waste dumping tops the offence committed in Lagos State.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has entrusted a big mandate in our hands to make Lagos State habitable for all to do business, and we remain committed to reducing the spate of environmental infractions to the barest as enshrined in the THEMES+ agenda of this administration.”

“At LAGESC, we are committed to exhausting all lawful options to ensure sanity in our environment, hence the reason for organising periodic stakeholder engagement meetings over the years across the senatorial divisions of the state to seek the buy-in and cooperation of all relevant stakeholders.

“We have discovered that the voices of stakeholders must be heard, their thoughts must be echoed, and there is a need to agree on a common goal for eradicating environmental nuisances in Lagos.

“To make Lagos habitable for business, we must imbibe a culture of positive environmental practices via proper waste disposal by patronising approved PSP operators, prompt payment of waste bills to avoid prosecution, recycling and regular environmental sanitation to reduce the spate of communicable diseases while discouraging pollution of the environment.”

When asked about training for officers, he said: “The state has organised a series of training sessions for the officers, and currently, training is being done for them. At our level, we have trained our officers from time to time.

“Fewer people are crossing the roads, and we have been witnessing an increase in the use of pedestrian bridges.”