LAWMA Sacks Supervisors, Sweepers Over Indiscriminate Waste Dumping In Lagos
The Lagos Waste Management Authority has disengaged some street sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider responsible for their operations over alleged indiscriminate waste dumping along the Oworonshoki-Beger axis of Lagos.
The decision followed investigations and surveillance by the Authority, which established that the affected sweepers were allegedly involved in dumping waste on the median, an area identified as a recurring waste blackspot.
In a post obtained from its Facebook account on Saturday, speaking on the development, LAWMA Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the sweepers confessed to the act during the investigation.
He said the affected personnel and service provider were disengaged to demonstrate the Authority’s commitment to maintaining high standards in waste management across the state.
“The sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider were disengaged from the cleaning operation to underscore the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that all personnel and service providers engaged in waste management in the State upheld the standards expected of them and did not contribute to the environmental challenges they were engaged to address,” Gbadegesin said.
According to him, LAWMA would continue to investigate recurring waste disposal hotspots and take action against individuals or organisations found contributing to indiscriminate dumping.
“Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part. Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,” he said.
In a related development, LAWMA enforcement officials arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.
One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, a male load carrier, was allegedly caught using a wheelbarrow to dump waste on the road median.
The second suspect, described as a suspected cart pusher, was arrested for allegedly engaging in unauthorised waste collection in the same area.
The two suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office (Mobile Court) for further investigation and prosecution under relevant environmental laws of Lagos State.
Gbadegesin urged residents, businesses and waste collectors to dispose of their waste through approved channels and patronise only assigned Private Sector Participants (PSPs).
He also stressed that waste management personnel and service providers must adhere to the same environmental standards expected of other stakeholders.
The LAWMA boss said surveillance would be sustained along the Berger-Oworonshoki axis and other identified waste hotspots, with further enforcement actions to follow where violations are established.
The Authority also urged residents to report cases of indiscriminate dumping and unauthorised waste collection through appropriate channels and support efforts to keep Lagos clean.
