The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has disengaged some street sweepers, their supervisors and a service provider following investigations into indiscriminate waste dumping along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis of Lagos State.
The authority also arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers in the area.
LAWMA Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this at the weekend, saying the action followed sustained surveillance and investigations around the median, which had become a recurring waste blackspot.
According to Gbadegesin, the affected sweepers confessed to dumping waste at the location.
He said the sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider were disengaged to reinforce LAWMA’s commitment to maintaining high standards among personnel and contractors responsible for waste management across the state.
Gbadegesin said the authority would continue to investigate recurring waste hotspots and take appropriate action against anyone found contributing to indiscriminate waste disposal, regardless of their position within the waste management system.
“Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part. Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,” he said.
Meanwhile, LAWMA’s enforcement team arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers in the area.
One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, was accused of using a wheelbarrow to dump waste on the road median around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.
The second suspect, described as a suspected cart pusher, was arrested for allegedly engaging in unauthorised waste collection in the same area.
The suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office, also known as the Mobile Court, for further investigation and prosecution under relevant environmental laws in Lagos State.
Gbadegesin urged residents, businesses and waste collectors to dispose of their waste through approved channels and patronise only assigned Private Sector Participants.
He also warned waste management personnel and service providers to comply with the same environmental standards expected of other stakeholders.
“The authority will sustain surveillance along the Berger-Oworonshoki axis and other identified waste hotspots, with further enforcement actions to be taken where investigations establish violations,” he said.
LAWMA urged residents to report cases of indiscriminate dumping and unauthorised waste collection through the appropriate channels and support efforts to keep Lagos clean.
