A woman by name, Rukayat Oderinde has been charged with illegal waste disposal and given 144 hours of community service by a Lagos Magistrate Court.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, enforcement crew caught the convict, Oderinde, improperly emptying her trash can into a drainage channel.
“In violation of the state’s current waste management regulations, the convict of number 17, Hassan Ogumola Street, Ahamadiyya, Lagos, was caught on camera throwing her household waste directly into the drainage channel.
“This poses serious risks to the overall cleanliness and functionality of the drainage system, and is strictly prohibited by state law.”
The woman was detained and given a 144-hour community service requirement by the court for breaking waste management laws.
She will start her eight-hour-per-day community service, which will involve cleaning the environment, on the route from Ahmadiyya to Salolofor the next 18 days.
The managing director of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, commented on the situation by stating that improper waste disposal, especially through drainage channels, could result in clogged drains, which in turn caused flooding during heavy rains, adding that “this not only disrupted daily life but also jeopardized the safety and health of the community.”
“I applaud LAWMA enforcement team for moving quickly to capture the woman. This highlights our dedication to preserving a clean and safe environment for all inhabitants,” according to Odumboni.
Odumboni urged households to utilize appropriate waste bins and containers for their household waste in order to avoid the potential penalties for not following correct waste disposal procedures.
In order to ensure the smooth disposal of garbage produced by tenements, he asked the public to use designated Public Sector Participant, PSP, operators. He also advised residents to phone the LAWMA toll-free numbers 07080601020 and 617 in the event of any environmental violations observed.
