… Vows to Prosecute Violators
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has issued a stern warning to property owners, agents, and private occupiers across the state to immediately cease all illegal recycling and scavenging activities in unlicensed facilities.
In a statement signed on Friday by its Director of Public Affairs, Kadiri Folashade, the agency also urged residents to stop indiscriminate sorting, dumping, storing, and trading of recyclable waste in their premises and surrounding public spaces.
Speaking on the directive, LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, emphasized that such activities not only degrade the city’s aesthetics but also infringe on property rights and pose serious environmental hazards.
A final public notice issued by the agency reads: “LAWMA has observed a rising trend of indiscriminate waste sorting, dumping, and trading of recyclables in unauthorized locations. These activities violate the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017, and will not be tolerated. Any individual or entity engaging in illegal recycling or scavenging will face strict enforcement measures and penalties as prescribed by law.”
The agency cited Part III, Sections 85 & 86 of the law, which strictly prohibit the disposal of recyclable waste in undesignated locations. LAWMA reiterated its commitment to enforcing compliance, warning that violators risk prosecution and the closure of offending facilities.
Dr. Gbadegesin further stated: “We cannot stand by and allow a few individuals to derail ongoing efforts to create a cleaner, more livable environment for all Lagos residents. Property owners who permit unauthorized recycling or scavenging on their premises risk revocation of property rights and other legal consequences.”
He urged residents and businesses to patronize only licensed recycling facilities and registered waste collectors to ensure proper waste management. Additionally, he encouraged the public to report illegal activities via LAWMA’s official channels.
“Achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos requires collective responsibility. We urge everyone to comply with waste management regulations and contribute to a healthier environment,” he stressed.
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As part of its crackdown, a joint enforcement team comprising officials from LAWMA’s Monitoring and Compliance Department and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) has dislodged squatters and illegal recyclers operating under the Ijora-Olopa bridge.
Dr. Gbadegesin affirmed that similar enforcement exercises would continue across the state as part of LAWMA’s zero-tolerance policy on environmental degradation.
“There will be no hiding place for individuals or groups engaging in activities that undermine our efforts to maintain a clean and sustainable Lagos,” he warned.
For further inquiries or to report illegal recycling activities, residents can contact LAWMA via:
Customer Service Lines: 080000LAWMA (08000052962), 07080601020, and 617
Website: www.lawma.gov.ng
