By Olasunkanmi Akoni

LAGOS — The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has intensified its enforcement operations across the state, arresting 14 persons for alleged waste-related offences and seizing scores of carts from suspected illegal waste collectors.

The enforcement operations were carried out on Lagos Island and along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway as part of efforts to strengthen compliance with waste management regulations and curb activities undermining orderly waste collection and disposal.

The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the 14 suspects were arrested at the weekend during an operation covering Idumota, Oke-Popo, Tom Jones and Tinubu areas of Lagos Island.

According to him, the suspects were arrested for various alleged waste-related offences, including the illegal disposal of waste into the lagoon.

The suspects were identified as Buhari Danbaba, 35; Ayo Akindele, 25; Shamsudeen Lawal, 25; Ibrahim Isiaka, 20; Azeez Alatilehin, 20; Quadri Adisa, 23; Ogunbado Sobur, 20; Salimonu Oluwadamilare, 29; Odunayo Arinola, 35; Azeez Roqeeb, 24; Sherifdeen Mudashiru, 31; Nurudeen Saliu, 19; Zazilo Bello, 21; and Augustine Eje, 35.

Gbadegesin said the authority also intensified enforcement against illegal waste collection along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where its operatives conducted an operation from Mile 2 to Okokomaiko and seized scores of carts allegedly used for unauthorised waste collection.

He said unregulated waste collection and transportation could undermine the organised waste management system, particularly where waste collected was subsequently dumped at unauthorised locations.

The LAWMA boss also warned against the disposal of waste into waterways, stressing that such practices could undermine the state’s environmental sustainability efforts.

He said: “The Lagos State Government, through LAWMA, will not relent in enforcing environmental regulations across the state.

“These enforcement operations are part of our ongoing efforts to ensure that residents, businesses and waste handlers take responsibility for the proper management and disposal of waste.”

Gbadegesin urged residents, traders and businesses across the state to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal and patronise accredited waste collection operators.

He said waste should be handed over through approved channels, warning that persons found dumping waste on roads, drains, waterways and other unauthorised locations, as well as those engaged in unauthorised waste collection, would face appropriate enforcement action in accordance with applicable laws.

He also urged residents to support LAWMA’s enforcement and waste management operations by maintaining proper waste disposal practices and reporting cases of illegal dumping and unauthorised waste collection through the authority’s established channels.