Illegal waste dump: Lagos court sentences woman to 144 hours of community labour

Illegal waste dump: Lagos court sentences woman to 144 hours of community labour

A woman, Rukayat Oderinde, has been arraigned by a Magistrate Court in Lagos over alleged Illegal disposal of waste and sentenced to 144 hours of community labour.

The convict, Oderinde, was apprehended by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, enforcement team, for illegally emptying her waste bin into a drainage channel.

The convict of number 17, Hassan Ogunmola Street, Ahmadiyya, Lagos, was caught red-handed on camera while she was disposing of her household waste directly into the drainage channel, an act strictly prohibited under existing waste management regulations in the state, as they posed serious threats to the overall cleanliness and functionality of the drainage system.

The woman was arrested and sentenced to 144 hours of community service by the court, for violating waste management regulations.

She is expected to commence her 8-hours per day community service from Ahmadiyya to Salolo route, for the next 18 days, cleaning the environment.

Commenting on the development the Managing Director of LAWMA, Ibrahim Odumboni, said that improper waste disposal, particularly through drainage channels, could lead to clogged drains, which in turn caused flooding during heavy rains, adding that “this not only disrupted daily life but also jeopardised the safety and health of the community.

“Blockages in drainage channels can result in stagnant water, becoming breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes and other harmful pests.

“I commend the LAWMA enforcement team who wasted no time in apprehending the woman. This emphasises our commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all residents,” Odumboni stated.

“This incident serves as a stark reminder to residents that improper waste disposal will not be tolerated and will be met with strict enforcement.”

Odumboni reminded residents about the need to engage proper methods of waste disposal and the potential consequences of non-compliance, urging them to use designated waste bins and containers for their household waste.

He urged the public to patronise assigned Public Sector Participant, PSP, operators whose duty is to ensure seamless disposal of waste generated by tenements, adding that residents should call LAWMA toll-free numbers 07080601020 and 617, for any environmental infractions observed in their area.