In a firm stand against indiscriminate waste disposal, five men accused of dumping refuse in a canal along the Igando-Iba Road Link Bridge were arraigned and remanded at Kirikiri prison.
The accused appeared before a Magistrate Court in Oshodi, facing charges of illegal waste dumping. Their case was adjourned to 9 July.
The defendants were identified as Quassim Jamiu, 44, and Ayo Jamiu, 18, both from Kwara State; Alexander Innocent, 40, from Akwa Ibom; Oparinde Taiwo, 55, from Ogun State; and Moses Adelowokan, 76, from Osun State.
The men were caught in the act by a combined team from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and security operatives while attempting to dump waste transported by lorry into the canal.
This arrest comes less than 48 hours after the Lagos State Government issued a stern warning to all offenders violating environmental laws, emphasizing that prosecutions would follow any breaches.
Speaking on the arrests, Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling illegal dumping decisively.
He assured that those caught would face rigorous prosecution to deter others, reminding the public that offenders risk a prison term of up to three months and a fine of ₦250,000.
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Mr Wahab further highlighted that the state has empowered Public-Private Sector Partnership (PSP) waste operators in all wards to provide waste collection services to households and neighbourhoods for a fee.
