Lagos cracks down on environmental offenders, arrests 10

By Sodiq Adelakun

Ten persons have been arrested in Lagos for environmental offences as state officials escalate enforcement operations against indiscriminate waste dumping and sanitation law violations.

Joint teams from the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) made the arrests during a weekend crackdown along the Ojo–Alaba Road and Badagry Expressway corridors, according to a statement issued Monday by Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab.

“Waste evacuation is actively ongoing, and 10 arrests have been made so far for environmental violations.

“Let it be known: dumping waste indiscriminately, defacing our environment, and ignoring the state’s sanitation laws will not be tolerated,” Wahab announced via his official X handle.

The commissioner stated that the exercise will continue “until compliance becomes culture,” signalling the government’s intent to institutionalise environmental discipline across the metropolis.

Speaking earlier at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, Wahab reaffirmed Lagos State’s commitment to long-term environmental sustainability, particularly in protecting its vulnerable coastline.

“Lagos is not sitting back. We are facing our realities. We must build and take ownership of resilient infrastructure,” he declared during his address.

The commissioner highlighted that as a coastal state, Lagos is experiencing increasing climate-related threats including sea level rise, flooding, and heatwaves which demand urgent structural and behavioural reforms.

Addressing systemic waste issues, Wahab disclosed that Lagos produces over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, prompting the state to shift from a linear waste disposal model to a circular economy strategy.

“In the past two years, we’ve moved from viewing waste as a nuisance to recognising it as a resource for energy, for wealth. We are transforming our waste management approach to align with sustainable practices,” he added.