The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Ibrahim Odumboni, has warned residents against turning abandoned properties to dumpsites, or using waste to reclaim lands for future uses.
Odumboni who spoke through a release from the Authority at Ijora-Olopa, noted that both illegal practices constituted environmental offences, punishable by outright forfeiture of such properties and prosecution of violators.
According to him, “LAWMA is issuing a strong warning that people should stop dumping refuse in abandoned properties. They should also desist from using waste to reclaim lands for the purpose of building houses. Anyone caught in those illegal practices will be made to face the wrath of the law, while such properties will be instantly confiscated by government.
“We have said this many times but some residents are adamant. I am restating again that anyone caught in the act will be prosecuted, as our enforcement teams have been effectively mobilised to do the needful in this regard”, he stressed.
The LAWMA helmsman further advised those involved in waste recycling, to do their business in secured spaces, that would not constitute environmental nuisance or attract reckless waste dumping by passers-by.
“A situation where people who don’t want to pay for PSP services, hide under the guise of recycling to dump their waste and discarded materials at uncompleted and abandoned buildings, will not be tolerated by the Authority. This nefarious act has turned such locations into breeding grounds for not only pests and diseases but also criminals”, he said.
Odumboni further reiterated that LAWMA had working collaboration with several government agencies including the MVAA and Neighbourhood Watch, to track waste migration and apprehend offenders, through timestamp cameras, in any part of the state.
He reminded residents that the easy way out was for them to acquire waste bins for their properties and patronise assigned PSP operators, adding that the prosecution of tenements without waste bins would begin in January next year.
Kadiri Folashade (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs 05/11/2022
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) said that, from next Thursday, both Ladipo and Oyingbo markets would be shut down till further notice, for reckless waste dumping, refusal to pay for waste services, and general poor waste management situation at the markets.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, noted that the unwholesome environmental practices by traders in those markets, despite repeated warnings, called for necessary and immediate sanctions.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the deplorable state of the environment around Ladipo Market, Mushin and Oyingbo Market, resulting from reckless waste dumping by traders. Despite serving them abatement notices, they have continued the mindless environmental violation. We are left with no other choice than to evoke the necessary sanction of shutting down the markets. This is also meant to serve as a deterrent to other nonchalant markets”.
He said that the authority had, in recent times, redoubled its efforts to ensure that business activities in all Lagos markets were carried out in a clean and safe environment, for the good of all.
Odumboni noted further that: “We have intensified our sanitation efforts by deploying trucks to clear black spots across the metropolis, especially business facilities.
However, these efforts are being tainted by the activities of mischievous persons who would rather dump their waste indiscriminately on the roads, than pay for waste services”.
He urged traders in other markets to adhere strictly to environmental hygiene or risk indefinite closure of their markets.
In another development, a mobile court sitting in Oshodi has sentenced two environmental offenders, for waste burning and dumping refuse in the drain during rainfall, both were apprehended at Ikeja and Lekki axis respectively.
The first offender was sentenced on a two-count charge: one year imprisonment or a ₦50,000 fine, and one month imprisonment, without the option of a fine. The second offender was remanded in a correctional facility, pending bail conditions.
The LAWMA boss reiterated the determination of the agency to stamp out all forms of indiscriminate waste disposal in the metropolis, adding that the enforcement team had been mandated to monitor the environment and arrest persons bent on derailing efforts of the Authority to make Lagos cleaner and livable.
He appealed to residents to imbibe the habit of effective waste management, by bagging and containerising their waste, for easy and evacuation by assigned PSPs, adding that delay of evacuation by PSP should be reported to the Authority, using its toll-free lines, as excuse when caught would not be entertained.
For waste management related issues in your location, please call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 07080601020 and 617.
Folashade Kadiri (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs 15/09/2022
The man in a trending video, caught empting his refuse bag in the drain during rainfall, on Sunday, at Jogunosimi Street, Ikeja, has been arrested at his residence, #9, Imalegbaalafia Street, Alausa, Ikeja.
The man, Mr. Mukaila Ismail Gado, was arrested at his residence by LAWMA enforcement team, shortly after he committed the infraction, and has been prosecuted, in line with the Environmental Laws of Lagos State.
We advise the general public against reckless waste disposal and environmental violations, as serious sanctions await culprits.
Collaborates with police for arrest of cart pushers
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has secured jail terms of two months imprisonment, for three persons, for various environmental offences, with a pending judgement for another person who patronised a cart pusher.
This is coming on the heels of the agency’s collaboration with the police to put a stop to incessant attacks on LAWMA’s personnel, ensuring prompt arrest of cart pushers and for those who patronise them.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, made the disclosure in his office on Tuesday, at Ijora-Olopa, noting that the working arrangement with the police, was aimed at sustaining the renewed offensive on all forms of environmental infractions and unwarranted attacks on the agency’s personnel.
He said, “Last week, we got jail terms for three environmental offenders, with a pending sentence for another person who patronised a cart pusher, making it an offence for anyone to patronise a cart pusher. Before now, we had warned unrepentant environmental violators about our renewed offensive, urging them to shun bad practices. But some people will never change. For three such persons, we secured jail sentences of minimum of two months while one is still pending”.
“I am also happy about LAWMA’s collaboration with the Nigerian Police to end needless attacks on our personnel on day or night duty. That collaboration is also to put an end to cart pushing, as any cart pusher found anywhere in Lagos will be promptly arrested and prosecuted, while those who patronise them will not be spared”, he stressed.
Speaking further, he noted that another set of 600 carts have been destroyed, bringing the total to about 3,000, in the last ten weeks.
He warned residents against patronising cart pushers, as both the cart pusher and the patron were liable, and would be accordingly prosecuted.
He said, “We have demolished carts impounded by our enforcement team in the course of their duty. This is to further reinforce our stance that the activities of cart pushers across the Lagos metropolis remain banned. We will not allow anyone or group of persons to undermine the ongoing efforts to establish a sustainable environment”.
Odumboni reiterated the Authority’s willingness to absorb willing cart pushers into the waste management system in the state, by offering them an opportunity to serve as uptakers of recyclable items, working hand in hand with other stakeholders in the waste management chain.
“The ill effects of cart pushing on our environment and security structure, mean that we have to eradicate it, to preserve lives and properties. Criminals now hide under the guise of cart pushing to carry out heinous crimes. However, as I stated earlier in the year, we are offering an opportunity to willing cart pushers to work with us, as offtakers, and by so doing have viable means livelihood”, he stated.
The LAWMA boss reaffirmed the agency’s total commitment to making the metropolis sustainably clean, urging residents to support the Authority’s efforts, by shunning improper waste disposal, paying their waste bills and patronising assigned PSP operators.
For complaints and inquiries on waste management issues in your area, please call LAWMA toll-free numbers: 07080601020 and 617, .
The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, has said that the agency was working on the creation of Transfer Loading Stations (TLS), in all the local government areas of the state, for fast and smooth evacuation of waste around the metropolis.
He also said that innovative strategies had been put in place to rejig the operational capability of the agency, for maximum efficiency.
The Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, who said this at a media parley, at the Authority’s headquarters, noted that the event provided a platform for the agency to inform the public on efforts at tackling the daunting waste challenge in Lagos.
He highlighted the various gains made in the area of establishing environmental sustainability and clearing backlogs of waste generated in the metropolis, adding that the Authority was working assiduously to resolve prevalent challenges, through on-going day and night operations.
Odumboni noted that the Authority, through the support of the state government, had completed the rehabilitation of landfills in the state, to shorten turn-around time, for refuse evacuation and disposal, by waste collection trucks across the state.
“I can confirm to you that through the support of the state government, we have rehabilitated landfills in the state, to facilitate seamless waste evacuation and disposal. PSP trucks can now dump their wastes at the landfills without any hindrance. The impact of this development will be felt in the metropolis within five to seven days,” he said.
The LAWMA boss said the Authority was working with PSP operators to resolve some of the issues affecting their operation, especially the price of diesel, which rose by over 100% within the current year, adding that most of their operational vehicles run on diesel.
“One of the challenges we had was the rise in the cost of operation. We estimate by now that there are over 1,000 PSP trucks in Lagos and LAWMA has over 150 supporting trucks. Most of these trucks make use of diesel to operate, and the rise in the cost of diesel greatly affected the operations of PSPs in the state. Through the support of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, we will be having additional subsidy for PSP operators in areas where we have such challenges”, he stated.
He said the Authority would work with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), as well as PSP operators, to review waste management charges in the state, in line with the present economic reality, adding that there would be wide consultation before the new tariff regime.
“The current economic reality in the country has made it necessary for price increase in waste management charges. To this effect, we will be increasing waste bills by 50%. We will also work with CDAs/CDCs and the PSPs, to review the charges and ensure proper implementation of the new tariff”, he noted.
He appealed to residents to procure bins to containerise their waste, noting that owning a bin would go a long way in tackling the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that it is mandatory for all tenements in the state to have a container for storage of their waste.
“Majority of households don’t have a bin, we continue to appeal to residents to procure waste bins to containerise their waste, for temporary storage, before evacuation by assigned PSP operators. It’s important for us all to have a bin of some sort. Let us teach our kids how better to behave. It’s mandatory for you as a household to have a bin. From the 1st of October, if you don’t have a bin, you can be prosecuted”, he stated.
He reiterated the ban on cart pushing, adding that the surge in waste dumping on roads and other unauthorised locations, resulted from people’s patronage of cart pushers, who dump waste indiscriminately in the metropolis, adding that the agency would integrate willing cart pushers into the state’s waste management system.
The LAWMA helsman hinted of imminent establishment of a “bottle-to-bottle” recycling centre, in partnership with a private company who would source their raw materials from the plastic waste generated across the metropolis, emphasising that Lagos would soon become the hub of recycling in West Africa.
He further said that the agency planned to set up 30 recycling centres across the state, by the end of the year, to boost the Lagos recycling initiative, which apart from its economic benefits, would mitigate the challenge of plastic pollution.
The president of Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Mr. David Oriyomi, said the price of diesel negatively affected their operation, but thanked the governor for the subsidy offered to PSP operators, stating the need for a review of service charges, in line with current economic reality.
Michael Joseph Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LAWMA
The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has warned against unwarranted attacks on its wokers, carrying out lawful duties of waste evacuation during the day or night time.
The Managing Director/CEO, Ibrahim Odumboni, gave the warning against the background of a reported attack by suspected miscreants on a LAWMA team, on night duty around Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway.
He indicated that any such attacks again, would be met with stiff official reaction, including prosecution, to deter such offenders.
He said:” We are totally disappointed to hear about attacks on our workers, on official duty. It is totally unacceptable and inhuman. LAWMA works round the clock to ensure our environment is healthier and safer for everyone to live. Our workers do not deserve to be treated that way. Anyone caught in such act again will be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Odumboni urged the public to always cooperate with LAWMA workers, including the PSP operators, to keep the environment clean, for the good of everyone.
Michael Joseph Asst. Director, Public Affairs LAWMA
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reiterated its commitment to stamping out all forms of indiscriminate waste disposal in the state, by collaborating with various stakeholders, especially community leaders.
The Managing Director/CEO LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, made this known on Monday, stressing that the Authority had improved on waste policing activities across various communities, by strategically positioning personnel on ground, to monitor the environment.
He said, “The task of achieving a cleaner and livable environment is one that requires the involvement of all stakeholders. This is why we are working with community leaders to stamp out improper waste disposal, which has exposed our environment and people living in it, to various hazards”.
Odumboni said LAWMA’s enforcement team had embarked on a comprehensive statewide campaign, to arrest and prosecute those bent on causing environmental degradation in the metropolis, and derailing efforts of the Authority towards attaining a sustainable environment in the state.
“Our enforcement team has been made visible across various communities. They ensure total compliance with the environment laws of the state, arresting defaulters and the outlawed cart pushers in the process. Business facilities known to have contravened the laws are also being sealed off, to serve as deterrent to others”, he stated.
The LAWMA boss also charged Igando-Ikotun Local Council Development Area, on community waste policing, for clean and sustainable environment, while urging residents of the area, to imbibe positive attitude change towards their surroundings.
He stated that community waste policing would create employment opportunities for the youths in the council, and would also forestall indiscriminate dumping of waste on roads medians and other unauthorised locations, as the youths monitored identified black spots across the council area.
“Community waste policing is a sure way to sustain good waste management. It is also a means of youth empowerment and revenue generation. So I urge the council lawmakers to examine their bylaws and do the needful”, he stressed.
Mr. Odumboni highlighted the environmental and economic benefits of recycling and waste separation at source, noting that the process would reduce the volume of wastes reaching the landfills, while also creating jobs.
He called on residents to cooperate with the Authority by bagging and containerising their waste, as well as patronising assigned PSP operators, whose job is to evacuate waste generated by tenements, stressing that the task of keeping the environment clean is a collective one.
signed Folashade Kadiri (Mrs.) Director, Public Affairs 13/06/2022
The Managing Director/CEO of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni has commended residents of Surulere Local Government Area, for maintaining a consistently clean environment, resulting in the choice as the cleanest local government in Lagos State, during the 2021 metropolitan competition.
Odumboni who gave the commendation at a stakeholder’s meeting on solid waste management across LCDAs in the state, held at the council secretariat, enjoined residents not to rest on their oars, in order to inspire other communities still lagging behind.
Commenting on the essence of implementing sustainable waste management practices in the council, the LAWMA boss noted that the community youths were a worthy resource that should be trained, to police vulnerable areas from indiscriminate waste disposal and black spots.
According to him, “Surulere Local Government is making a significant impact on its youths, with a lot of empowerment going on. Indeed, the sky is your starting point. LAWMA is an advocate of youth empowerment, we are ready to help you train them on waste policing. Let them man areas where cart pushing business is thriving and get them arrested for violating environmental laws of the land.
Speaking further, he said, “Waste sorting is the way to go as the landfills are overstretched. More than four billion plastic bottles are generated annually and it takes about 450 years for a single plastic bottle to dissolve. Therefore, I urge everyone to sort their waste at source, especially organised estates. The same goes for companies, shops and other businesses. Beginning from April, there will be an increment on the waste bills of estates and organizations who refuse to sort their waste at source’’.
The chairman of the council, Hon. Sulaimon Bamidele Yusuf, in his remarks, commended LAWMA’s effort, adding that the council had acquired a compactor for carting away community waste after environmental sanitation on Thursday.
In another development, LAWMA’s Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, had charged youths in Epe Local Government and Eredo Local Council Development Area, to be involved in waste policing, to apprehend defaulters whose activities deface the environment.
Mr. Adebiyi, who represented LAWMA’s managing director at the stakeholders’ meetings organised respectively in Epe LGA and Eredo LCDA, observed that residents needed to do more, in the area of cooperation with the PSP operators assigned to their areas, adding that the operators had been mandated to upscale their services and deliver effectively on assigned responsibilities.
Responding, the council manager for Epe Local Government, Hon. Olakunle Bakare, who represented the council chairman, commended LAWMA for its good job in the town, and appealed for more PSP operators in the area.
He hinted on the recruitment of youths as street captains, for waste policing around the town, to ensure a cleaner and sustainable environment.
On his own part, the Eredo LCDA chairman, represented by his vice, Hon. Lateef Adesanya, also praised LAWMA for its sustained efforts, promising to do the needful to achieve the right environmental behavior by the people.
Folashade Kadiri (Mrs) Director, Public Affairs LAWMA 11th March, 2022
