Lagos Court sentences 16 individuals to prison following LAWMA’s surveillance operations
Sixteen individuals have been convicted by the Lagos Special Offenses and Mobile Court in Oshodi for multiple environmental offenses, following the legal action taken against them by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The convicts were apprended by LAWMA team enforcement operatives during surveillance operations at various locations on the Gbagada Expressway, Anthony Oke, Oworonshoki and Bariga for contradicting state laws and dumping waste on roads, drainage channels and other unauthorized sites.
They were charged before Chief Magistrate Jimoh Adefioye, on Monday, 6th of July, each on four counts relating to indiscriminate waste disposal, failure to patronize the authorized Private Sector Participants (PSPs), breach of environmental sanitation laws as well as other related offenses. The court sentenced each of them to four months in prison, one month for each count.
The conviction forms a part of the agency’s enforcement drive to put an end to indiscriminate waste disposal, boost compliance with environmental laws and foster a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos.
Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA as a reaction to the convictions, expressed that it was a strong demonstration by the state government ‘s resolve to enforce environmental laws and safeguard public health.
“We will continue to strengthen surveillance and enforcement across the state to ensure compliance with approved waste management practices.”
He went further to urge resident and businesses to support the government’s efforts at improving waste management infrastructure and services stating that “Effective waste management is a shared responsibility.”
He affirmed that the agency would continue in its intensified surveillance, monitoring and enforcement operations across Lagos, collaborating with other relevant security and environmental agencies to deter environmental violations and to sustain the ongoing efforts to keep the state clean.
He urged residents to support the state’s environmental sustainability agenda by complying with approved waste management practices and reporting illegal waste disposal as well as other environmental violations through the agency’s official communication mediums.
