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LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) has arrested two individuals for the unlawful disposal of waste on Durosimi-Etti Street in the Lekki Phase 1 area.
This information was revealed by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who noted that the event occurred on Saturday.
Wahab mentioned that the Chairman of the Lekki Estate Residents Association (LERA) notified the authorities about the suspects, who were driving a white Ford van with Abuja registration number GWA 136E.
The suspects were caught in the act of unlawfully dumping waste, and their vehicle was traced back to Donald restaurant, a nightlife venue on Road 14 within the estate.
“The suspects were apprehended at the scene by LERA’s Chief Security Officer and taken to the LERA Secretariat. Reports indicated that they attempted to bribe the security team with ₦100,000, an offer that was firmly rejected,” the commissioner stated.
In light of this report, the Managing Director of LAWMA dispatched the Monitoring and Compliance team to the site, who took over custody of the suspects and sealed Donald restaurant for serious environmental infractions, violating the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017.
“This incident highlights a larger trend of non-compliance among numerous commercial operators in Lekki Phase 1 who have not registered with their designated Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators. Many of these establishments have been involved in ongoing illegal dumping, especially during off-peak hours,” he noted.
Wahab praised the prompt and principled actions of the LERA Executive Committee and their security personnel, stating that their collaboration with LAWMA continues to produce positive outcomes.
“The suspects will face prosecution as per the law. LAWMA is determined to uphold environmental regulations throughout Lagos and encourages all residents and businesses to strictly follow appropriate waste management practices. A clean and livable city is a shared responsibility,” he concluded.
