A joint enforcement team, comprising officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC/KAI), has arrested Mr Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, who was caught in a viral video dumping waste on the Alapere Link Bridge, Ketu.

He has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility by the Environmental and Special Offences Court, sitting in Oshodi, with the case adjourned to June 26, 2025.

Speaking on the matter, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, expressed deep concern over the continued disregard for environmental regulations by some residents.

He emphasised that the state government would not relent in its efforts to identify and prosecute individuals who violate sanitation laws.He said, “The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to environmental enforcement with the arrest of Mr Ogunbadejo Olawale, a resident of No. 25 Ajiboye Street, Alapere, Ketu, for illegal waste dumping.”

Wahab stressed that environmental enforcement would be intensified across all local councils, noting that surveillance activities were being upgraded and that defaulters would be prosecuted without hesitation. He warned that the era of impunity was over, as no one is above the law.

“We have launched a multi-agency collaboration involving LAWMA, LAGESC/KAI, and other stakeholders to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. Let this serve as a stern warning to others. Residents must comply with the state’s waste management guidelines or face legal consequences,” he added.

Confirming the development, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, condemned the offender’s action and reiterated the Authority’s unwavering resolve to stamp out illegal waste disposal practices.

“This arrest is a strong message to those who persist in sabotaging the state’s environmental agenda. Lagos is not a dumping ground. We have invested heavily in infrastructure and personnel to maintain cleanliness across the metropolis. Anyone caught polluting public spaces will face the full weight of the law. The days of indiscriminate waste disposal are over,” he said.

Also, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC/KAI, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (rtd), stated that the law would continue to catch up with individuals engaging in acts that deface and endanger the environment, describing the suspect’s action as reckless and counterproductive to the state’s environmental sustainability efforts.