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A collaborative enforcement team, made up of officials from the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI), has apprehended Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, who was seen in a viral video illegally dumping waste on the Alapere Link Bridge in Ketu.
He has been taken to the Kirikiri Correctional Facility by the Environmental and Special Offences Court located in Oshodi, with the case rescheduled for June 26, 2025.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, voiced significant concern regarding the ongoing neglect of environmental rules by some community members.
He stressed that the state government will maintain its efforts to identify and prosecute those who breach sanitation laws.
“The Lagos State Government reaffirms its strong commitment to environmental enforcement with the arrest of Ogunbadejo Olawale for illegal waste dumping,” he stated.
Wahab noted that environmental enforcement efforts would be heightened across all local councils, with enhanced monitoring measures, and that offenders would be prosecuted without delay.
He cautioned that the time for impunity has ended, as no one is above the law. Related News: Man caught on viral video dumping waste on Alapere Bridge remanded in custody LASG clarifies that water sachets and pet bottles are not part of the single-use plastics ban Flash flood revives discussions on Lagos’ environmental issues.
“We have initiated a multi-agency collaboration involving LAWMA, LAGESC/KAI, and other partners to bolster monitoring and enforcement. Let this serve as a firm warning to others. Residents must adhere to the state’s waste management regulations or face legal repercussions,” he added.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, confirmed the incident and condemned the offender's actions, reaffirming the Authority’s determination to eliminate illegal waste disposal.
“This arrest sends a strong message to those who continue to undermine the state’s environmental initiatives. Lagos is not a dumping ground. We have made significant investments in infrastructure and personnel to uphold cleanliness across the city. Anyone caught polluting public areas will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. The era of indiscriminate waste disposal is over,” he stated.
Furthermore, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC/KAI, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), remarked that the law will continue to hold accountable individuals who engage in actions that damage and threaten the environment, characterizing the suspect’s behavior as irresponsible and detrimental to the state’s environmental sustainability efforts.
