Court convicts 26 persons for environmental offences in Lagos

The Environmental Special Offences Court of Lagos State District, sitting in Ikoyi, has imposed a N30,000 fine per person or option of community service on 26 persons for reckless waste disposal.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mrs Folashade Kadiri, on Tuesday in Lagos.

The statement said the environmental offenders were arrested by the enforcement team of LAWMA in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps at different locations in the state.

It said the offenders were caught disposing refuse in unauthorised places between the hours of 9.30 p. m and 7.00 a.m.

Commenting on the judgement, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the ongoing joint enforcement action by the authority had been intensified.

Gbadegesin said the action was in line with the zero tolerance policy of the administration of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“The era of recklessness and disdain for the environment is over. Anyone caught under whatever guise will be made to face the wrath of the law. The exercise is a continuous one,” Gbadegesin said.

He urged residents to support efforts made to sanitise the environment by shunning acts of reckless waste disposal.

Gbadegesin called on residents to ensure waste receptacles at home, and patronising only accredited Private Sector Participants operators, warning that there would be no hiding place for defaulters.

It would be recalled that 29 people were earlier sentenced to fines and community service by a Magistrates’ Court in Oshodi, for engaging in indiscriminate waste disposal, at different locations in the metropolis.