As the world marks this year’s World Environment Day, the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has called on residents of the state to maintain clean surroundings and desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public places.

The Special Adviser to the Governor and Managing Director of OGWAMA, Hon. Farouk Akintunde, made the appeal while speaking on proper waste disposal practices as part of activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day.

He noted that indiscriminate dumping of waste in public and unauthorized locations leads to an unhealthy and unsightly environment, which poses risks to public safety and undermines economic development.

Akintunde urged residents to adopt proper waste disposal habits by patronising Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators assigned to their communities, stressing that this would ensure efficient and affordable waste collection.

He warned against dumping waste at night along medians, roadsides, and other public spaces, noting that such practices distort the aesthetic appeal of the state.

“Ogun State residents are known as clean and fun-loving people. We should not allow a few individuals to dent our pride through such untoward behaviour. When we see people dumping waste indiscriminately, we should speak up,” he said.

He added that OGWAMA would continue its sensitisation and advocacy efforts to promote responsible waste management, urging residents to properly containerise their waste for easy collection by accredited PSP operators.

The DG also cautioned industries operating in the state against patronising illegal waste collectors, warning that enforcement measures would be taken against defaulters.

“For industries domiciled in the state, I want to remind them of the need to allow government-accredited PSP operators to carry out their statutory duties. Any attempt to patronise illegal operators will attract sanctions when caught by our enforcement team,” he said.

Akintunde further disclosed that OGWAMA would intensify enforcement activities across the state to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment for all residents.