By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos Waste Management Authority has stepped up enforcement operations across Lagos to combat illegal waste collection and dumping, reinforcing efforts to improve urban sanitation and environmental health.
In a statement shared Monday by the Lagos State Government, the agency said its Waste Surveillance, Investigation and Enforcement teams conducted targeted operations on March 19 in Gbagada, Bariga, and Iwaya—areas flagged for persistent violations linked to unauthorised waste handlers.
The agency noted that such practices undermine structured waste management systems and contribute to environmental degradation in the state.
LAWMA further disclosed that on March 21, operatives apprehended a wheelbarrow pusher during a follow-up investigation at a previously cleared dumpsite beneath the Mile 12 flyover, opposite the BRT terminal.
According to the agency, the sustained operations reflect a zero-tolerance approach to illegal waste activities and are part of broader efforts to ensure a cleaner and healthier urban environment.
Residents were advised to engage only accredited Private Sector Participation operators for waste disposal.
Data from the agency indicate that 1,023 waste-related violations were recorded in 2025, with 447 cases forwarded for prosecution, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
