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Lagos Prosecutes 4,000 Residents in Crackdown on Illegal Waste Disposal

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 5th, 2026.

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that more than 4,000 residents have been prosecuted over the past year for illegally dumping refuse in unauthorised locations across the state.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed this during a media interaction at his office in Lagos. He expressed concern over the persistent practice of discarding waste on road medians, drainage channels and other public spaces, describing the trend as a serious violation of environmental regulations.

Wahab questioned why some residents transport household waste to roadsides instead of using approved disposal channels. He noted that enforcement remains a key pillar of the state’s Clean Lagos initiative, stressing that offenders are routinely apprehended and prosecuted to deter further violations.

According to him, the government is committed to ensuring that environmental laws are not only enacted but also strictly enforced, adding that sanctions are necessary to discourage irresponsible behaviour.

Addressing complaints about irregular waste collection by Private Sector Participants (PSPs), the commissioner pointed to low payment compliance among residents as a contributing factor. He explained that waste operators function as businesses and depend on service payments, although the government continues to provide support through subsidies and other interventions.

While acknowledging that the waste management structure requires adjustments, Wahab maintained that the framework remains viable. He said efforts are ongoing to restructure the system to guarantee fair returns for operators while strengthening the operational capacity of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The commissioner further disclosed that the state is expanding landfill capacity, with new facilities under development in Epe, Oke-Oso and Erekete in Badagry. He emphasised the need for adequate infrastructure at the new sites to ensure they are accessible and efficient for waste operators.

Drawing comparisons with global cities, Wahab observed that waste management challenges are not unique to Lagos, citing instances in developed countries where refuse disposal crises have occurred. He insisted that the state government would not relent in its efforts to improve environmental sanitation.

He added that recent weeks have seen noticeable improvements following stricter monitoring of PSP operators and increased operational support from LAWMA. Operators who fail to meet collection and disposal standards, he warned, risk being removed from the system.

Lagos, one of Africa’s largest urban centres, generates over 13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, a volume that highlights the scale of the task confronting authorities as they seek to maintain environmental order in the state.