The Lagos State Government has declared a zero tolerance for all forms of environmental infractions before, during, and after the Sallah, Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in the State.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing on the state of the Lagos Environment, World Environment Day Celebrations, and the Sallah clampdown on environmental offenders, held at Alausa, Ikeja.
According to her, “It’s a pleasure to address you on the state of the Lagos environment and measures we have put in place, especially our renewed commitment to enforce law and order. Lagos, as the commercial nerve centre of the nation, has become a victim of its own prosperity. From now on, we are reading the riot act to all residents of the state who brazenly defy and disobey our laws. Henceforth, there would be zero tolerance for all forms of environmental infractions.”
She continued, “Keeping Lagos Clean During Sallah: As we prepare for the Sallah festivities, which come up in a few days’ time, as we all know, it is a major festival for all adherents of the Islamic faith. During the festival, a lot of waste will be generated through the slaughtering of rams and other types of livestock. We urge all residents to maintain a clean and hygienic environment, especially around homes, markets, and worship centres. All generated waste should be sorted, bagged and handed over to the approved PSP operators across all the wards in the state.
Every household and business must patronize their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) Operator for proper waste collection. Do not patronize illegal waste collectors or cart pushers. That is what the provisions of the law state.”
“Timely payment of your waste bill supports the system and ensures consistent service. The polluter pays principle applies—those who generate waste must take responsibility for its proper disposal. Every resident must realize that all residents or tenements must pay their waste bills to keep the PSP operators in business,” she said.
Wahab further warned, “Illegal dumping in drains and public spaces causes flash flooding, endangers public health, and defaces our city. It is strictly prohibited and under active surveillance. Desist from dumping building materials on the drains or on the roads during the construction process. All such contravening structures will be sealed up, and the owners will be prosecuted. There is a total ban on open defecation or open urination. Apart from the health implications for the citizenry, open defecation also falls short of human decency. Free public and private toilet facilities are available across the state for people to make use of anytime they are pressed. No forms of trading will be allowed on the road, medians, open spaces and walkways meant for pedestrians. Anyone caught will be prosecuted.”
She noted that offenders caught dumping refuse illegally or littering the environment would face up to ₦250,000 in fines or up to three months’ imprisonment under the Lagos Sanitation Environmental Law provisions, and that serial offenders would face stiffer punishments. She added that over 3,755 offenders had been prosecuted in the last year.
“All residents must be warned that our surveillance and enforcement operatives are very active. Operatives from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, KAI, and Lagos Waste Management Authority LASTMA Surveillance Teams are fully operational across the state.
Offenders are being apprehended daily, and there is a new commitment to prosecute and name-shame all those convicted,” Wahab warned.
She urged residents to use LAWMA’s helpline channels—080000LAWMA (08000052962) and 07080601020—to report any infractions or inactive PSP operators.
Wahab also said the World Environment Day will be celebrated on June 5, with the theme “Ending Plastic Pollution”.
She stressed, “The State is committed to ending the scourge of plastic waste in our State. There is no going back on the July 1 deadline for the commencement of enforcement of the ban on single-use plastics after an 18-month moratorium to producers, distributors and users. We are also stepping up our advocacy for the citizenry to be well aware of the ban, which is a follow-up to that of styrofoam food packs.”
