The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), in collaboration with the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Mobile Police, has arrested a resident of Meiran, Lagos, for allegedly dumping waste into a drainage channel during rainfall.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this on Wednesday, saying the arrest followed a tip-off from members of the public.
He commended the residents who alerted the authorities, describing their action as an example of responsible citizenship and a contribution to efforts to keep the environment clean and safe.
Gbadegesin said the woman, who resides at No. 13, Lanre Adefiranye Street, Baale Bus Stop, Meiran, was arrested during a joint enforcement operation involving LAWMA officials, KAI personnel and the Mobile Police.
According to him, the suspect was allegedly caught disposing of waste into a drainage channel while it was raining. She has since been taken to the KAI headquarters for further investigation and prosecution in line with the law.
“Members of the public have an important role to play in protecting our environment. When you see indiscriminate dumping or any other environmental violation, speak up and report it. Timely information can help us respond quickly and prevent environmental offences from becoming bigger problems,” he said.
The LAWMA boss urged Lagos residents to embrace the principle of “If you see something, say something,” stressing that keeping the environment clean is a shared responsibility.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to curbing indiscriminate waste disposal, particularly the practice of dumping refuse in drainage channels, which can obstruct water flow and worsen flooding during rainfall.
LAWMA also advised residents to dispose of their waste through approved channels and warned that dumping refuse in drains poses risks to public health, the environment and the city’s drainage infrastructure.
