The Lagos State Government has arrested 12 environmental offenders in separate enforcement operations across Lagos Island, Yaba and Ikorodu, as it intensifies efforts to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and other environmental violations.

The arrests were carried out by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Corps as part of the state’s ongoing campaign to promote environmental sanitation and enforce compliance with waste management laws.
 
Commenting on the operations, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the authority’s Project WISE Enforcement Team arrested 11 suspects during surveillance operations in Lagos Island and at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) axis for offences that include indiscriminate waste disposal, scavenging and other environmental infractions.

The suspects are Onasanya Josphine (arrested in Yaba), Godspower, Lucky Osaigie, Goodness John, Rasheed Abass, Yaya Cidi, Abubakar Amosu, Monday Lawal, Sanni A. Sanni, Opere Badmus and Usman Nasir.

Gbadegesin said the suspects had been taken into custody and would be prosecuted in accordance with the environmental laws of the state.

In a separate operation in Ikorodu, he said officers of the KAI Corps arrested a school security guard after a public-spirited resident recorded and reported him allegedly emptying the contents of a waste bin into a drainage channel in front of the school where he worked.
 
The suspect, identified as Mr John Ehidreme, has also been taken into custody and will face prosecution under the relevant environmental laws of the state.

Gbadegesin commended the resident whose vigilance led to the arrest, describing the action as an example of the active public participation needed to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.
 
“We commend the public-spirited citizen whose timely intervention made this enforcement action possible. Environmental protection is a shared responsibility, and we encourage residents to emulate this example by reporting environmental offenders through the appropriate government channels. Together, we can build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos,” he said.
 
The LAWMA boss described the indiscriminate dumping of waste in drainage channels, road medians, sidewalks and other unauthorised locations as unacceptable, noting that such practices obstruct drainage systems, increase the risk of flooding, degrade the environment and pose serious threats to public health.

He said the arrests formed part of the Lagos State Government’s sustained enforcement drive to eliminate indiscriminate waste disposal, strengthen compliance with environmental laws and safeguard public health.
 
According to him, surveillance and enforcement operations will continue across the state through close collaboration among relevant environmental and security agencies to ensure that offenders are apprehended and prosecuted.
 
Gbadegesin urged residents, businesses and institutions to patronise only their assigned Private Sector Participants (PSPs), comply with approved waste management practices and support government efforts by promptly reporting environmental infractions through official channels.
 
He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos through sustained enforcement, community engagement and strategic collaboration among relevant agencies.