The Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) has taken into custody two suspects for illegal dumping of refuse along Durosimi-Etti Street in Lekki Phase 1 area of the state.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who said the incident took place on Saturday.
Wahab said the Chairman of the Lekki Estate Residents Association (LERA) alerted authorities to the action of the suspects who drove a white Ford van with Abuja registration plates GWA 136E.
He said the suspects were caught in the act of indiscriminately discharging waste, adding that the vehicle was traced to Donald restaurant, a nightlife establishment located on Road 14 within the estate.
“The suspects were apprehended on the scene by LERA’s Chief Security Officer and taken into custody at the LERA Secretariat. It was reported that the individuals attempted to bribe the security team with ₦100,000—an offer that was firmly declined,” the commissioner said.
He said following the report, the Managing Director of LAWMA deployed the Monitoring and Compliance team to the location, who took custody of the suspects and sealed the premises of Donald restaurant for gross environmental violations, in breach of the LAWMA law of 2017.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of non-compliance among several commercial operators in Lekki Phase 1 who have failed to register with their assigned Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators. Many of these facilities have been implicated in repeated acts of illegal dumping, particularly during off-peak hours,” he said.
Wahab commended the swift and principled response of the LERA Exco and their security team, saying their partnership with LAWMA continues to yield results.
“The suspects will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. LAWMA remains resolute in its commitment to enforcing environmental regulations across Lagos and urges all residents and businesses to adhere strictly to proper waste management practices. A clean and livable city is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.
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