The Lagos Waste Management Authority has intensified its enforcement against illegal waste disposal, seizing multiple waste carts and arresting a suspect during an early morning operation on Lagos Island.
The operation followed targeted surveillance by LAWMA officials after reports of unauthorised waste movement and attempts to revive illegal dump points in areas previously cleared by the agency. Enforcement officers intercepted the waste carts at dawn in Isale-Eko as part of efforts to disrupt unregulated waste disposal activities.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, who said the exercise was part of a broader strategy to sustain environmental cleanliness and prevent the return of waste black spots across the island.
“While the waste carts were seized at Isale-Eko, an individual named Muritala Suleiman, a 42-year-old male from Zamfara State, was intercepted at around 1:31 a.m. dumping waste illegally at Tinubu Square, Lagos Island. LAWMA’s early-hour monitoring remains a critical enforcement tool, as illegal dumping activities are often carried out during periods of low visibility,” the statement said.
Sanusi noted that LAWMA has continued to deploy surveillance teams during off-peak hours to identify and stop individuals who exploit low visibility to dump waste unlawfully.
Commenting on the operation, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said sustained enforcement remains key to protecting cleared locations from renewed abuse.
“Waste Investigation, Surveillance and Enforcement operatives are strategically deployed across the state to eradicate persistent black spots and ensure sustainability along major corridors,” he said.
LAWMA also urged residents and waste handlers to comply strictly with approved waste disposal channels, warning that illegal dumping undermines environmental safety and public health.
The authority is the statutory agency responsible for solid waste management and environmental sanitation in Lagos State. Established to address challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, population growth, and increased economic activities, LAWMA oversees waste collection, transportation, treatment, recycling, and disposal across the state.
In recent years, the agency has transitioned from direct waste collection to a public-private partnership model, engaging private operators to improve service delivery in residential, commercial, and industrial areas.
LAWMA reiterated its commitment to keeping Lagos clean and called on residents to support enforcement efforts by reporting illegal dumping activities.
