Yemi Olakitan
About 30 environmental offenders have been detained by the Lagos State Government for unlawful waste disposal and disregarding state environmental rules.
They are due to be arraigned before a magistrate’s court on Monday.
According to sources, Nature News gathered that the environmental laws enforcement squad, the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), better known as KAI, and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in association with the Nigerian Police made the arrests.
The offenders who were apprehended in various places, were allegedly involved in activities that could harm the environment and undermine attempts to ingrain cleanliness in the city.
The arrest and subsequent prosecution of individuals involved in indiscriminate waste dumping, in the opinion of Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, indicates that things are no longer as they used to be.
“The state government won’t sit by while some individuals undermine efforts to keep the city in sanity. “Today’s action will act as a warning to others and a deterrence.
“The era of people hiding under the guise of darkness to dump waste at unauthorized locations is over; anyone caught will be prosecuted,” he stated. He urged locals to get trash cans and periodically clean up their environs in anticipation of the government’s upcoming complete environmental inspections of residential and commercial properties.
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The official reminded citizens of their legal duty to protect the environment, which included getting covered trash cans, abstaining from careless waste disposal, and being required to use designated private operators.
Every individual, both homeowners and business owners, must be aware of their legal responsibilities with regard to waste management.”
“Everyone must procure bins, engage with assigned private participants, refrain from indiscriminate waste disposal, maintain drains and clean the frontage of their establishments,” Wahab stated.
On his part, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of LAWMA, urged householders to develop the habit of separating their waste at the source.
Such waste must be divided into recyclables and non-recyclables before being disposed of in the proper bins suggested by LAWMA.
“If we take this action, it will lessen the threat of careless rubbish disposal that defaces the urban environment.
“The duty to keep the environment clean belongs to everyone of us. The state government and LAWMA are not the only parties responsible. Every person, household, and business owner in Lagos has a responsibility to do this.
“We are pleading with locals to refrain from carelessly disposing of trash in public places since doing so creates serious health and environmental risks. Environmental lawbreakers will face serious legal repercussions, according to Mr. Gbadegesin.
