The Lagos State Government has arrested and arraigned five men for illegally dumping waste into a canal along the Igando-Iba Road Link Bridge. The suspects were caught in the act and have now been remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending further court proceedings.
According to a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the five men were apprehended by operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Task Force, working in collaboration with security agencies.
Those arrested include Quassim Jamiu, 44, and Ayo Jamiu, 18, both from Kwara State; Alexander Innocent, 40, from Akwa Ibom; Oparinde Taiwo, 55, from Ogun State; and Moses Adelowokan, 76, from Osun State.
Wahab said the suspects were caught offloading waste from a lorry into the canal when officials swooped in and arrested them. The suspects were arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Oshodi, which ordered their remand in Kirikiri.
The arrests came less than 48 hours after the Lagos State Government issued a strong warning to residents about the consequences of violating environmental laws.
Commissioner Wahab stressed that the government will not tolerate acts that harm the environment and public health.
“This arrest and prosecution are a clear message that the days of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Lagos are over,” Wahab said. “Anyone caught will face the full weight of the law.”
He explained that the state will pursue the prosecution of the suspects diligently to serve as a deterrent to others who may consider flouting environmental regulations.
Under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, illegal dumping of waste can attract up to three months’ imprisonment, a fine of ₦250,000, or both.
Wahab urged residents to avoid these consequences by making proper use of the state’s waste management systems.
“Lagos has provided Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators in all wards to handle proper waste collection,” he said. “Residents are expected to use these services to maintain cleanliness in their communities.”
The Lagos State Government has been implementing the “Clean Lagos” initiative as part of its broader effort to tackle waste management challenges in the rapidly growing city. Regular clean-up exercises, enforcement actions, and public education campaigns have been carried out to improve environmental sustainability.
Wahab appealed to the public to play their part in protecting the environment. “A clean Lagos is a healthy Lagos. We cannot achieve this without the full cooperation of the people.”
The case against the five accused persons continues at the Magistrate Court in Oshodi.
