LAWMA Advocates Six Months Imprisonment For Indiscriminate Dumping

By Felix Kuyinu

The Lagos State Management Authority, LAWMA, has expressed dissatisfaction over the incissent improper waste disposal in the state, calling for stringent sanctions imposed on violators.

The General Management of the agency, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, while recommending a six month imprisonment against eering individuals, opined that the current penalties against the act do not match the gravity of the environmental threats in the state.

Gbadegesin, on Sunday, stated that lenient court injunctions on the violators in form of fines and community service are factors leading to the lingering problem.

He held that despite the strategic interventions by the state government, the issue has remained a major challenge in the urban area, adding that the unwanted situation needs to be to prevented to avoid flooding as the raining season approaches.

“Lagos currently generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, half of which is organic,” said Gbadegesin.

“The management of this massive volume remains a major urban challenge, particularly with a growing population and limited landfill capacity.

“While the state has made commendable progress in improving the efficiency of waste collection, more remains to be done in curbing it’s menace which often leads to flooding and public health risks.

“In my opinion, anyone caught dumping waste illegally should face a minimum of six months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.

“The current system does not adequately reflect the severe consequences of illegal dumping, especially in a coastal city like Lagos where blocked drainage can easily cause flooding and disease outbreaks.”

On the efforts put up by LAWMA to curb the incident, the agency’s boss said, “We are actively pushing for amendments to the existing laws to empower courts to impose tougher penalties on offenders,” the agency’s head continued.

“We have stepped up enforcement through environmental health officers and surveillance teams who now discreetly monitor and apprehend offenders with photographic and video evidence, which is then used for prosecution.

“Some people, especially new residents from rural communities, believe they shouldn’t pay to dispose of their waste. We’re cracking down on such practices with full legal backing.”

Gbadegesin also explained that LAWMA’s public-private partnership model, which engages 428 registered Private Sector Participators across 377 wards in Lagos, remains the backbone of domestic waste collection.

“We have also strengthened its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure PSPs deliver consistently,” the agency’s boss continued.

“Feedback channels, including toll-free lines and social media remain open to residents.

“When residents report that they’ve paid and the PSP fails to collect their waste, we act immediately. We’ve also deployed community advocacy teams to raise awareness and promote responsible waste habits.”

Gbadegesin urged residents in the state to ensure complaince to the environmental laws in ensuring a habitable area for all residents.