Eid-el-Kabir: Lagos vows jail term, N250,000 for illegal dumping

By Sodiq Adelakun

As Lagosians prepare to celebrate Eid-el-Kabir, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has issued a firm warning that illegal dumping of waste during the festive period will no longer be tolerated.

Offenders face prosecution, including hefty fines and possible jail terms, as the authority ramps up enforcement to maintain public health and environmental hygiene.

Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA,Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin announced on Wednesday that the agency has deployed adequate personnel and resources to manage the anticipated surge in waste generation across the state.

He said, “Eid-el-Kabir is a time of joy and communal celebration, but we must not lose sight of our environmental responsibilities. Proper disposal of animal waste, food remnants, and packaging materials is essential to maintaining hygiene and public safety.”

LAWMA has mobilised its enforcement teams alongside Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to ensure timely waste evacuation along all designated routes.

The authority has made clear that indiscriminate dumping on road medians, drainage channels, and open spaces will attract severe penalties under environmental laws.

“We appeal to residents to bag their waste properly, use covered bins, and cooperate with PSP operators for effective waste evacuation. Environmental cleanliness is not just LAWMA’s responsibility, it’s a collective duty,” Gbadegesin urged.

In a pointed advisory, LAWMA also called on butchers and livestock sellers to conduct slaughtering activities only at approved abattoirs and slaughterhouses to prevent environmental contamination and safeguard public health.

The warning comes as LAWMA joins global efforts to mark World Environment Day 2025 with the theme “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution.”

Dr. Gbadegesin reiterated the importance of community engagement in promoting recycling, waste segregation, and sustainable disposal practices.

“This World Environment Day should be a wake-up call for everyone to reflect on the consequences of environmental neglect. We must all work together to restore and protect the ecosystem that sustains our lives and livelihoods,” he added.