……Mobile court convicts two environmental offenders
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) said markets in Ladipo and Oyingbo would be closed from next Thursday until further notice due to careless waste disposal, refusal to pay and a general poor waste disposal situation in the markets.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, noted that despite repeated warnings, the unhealthy environmental practices of traders in these markets required necessary and immediate sanctions.
He said: “Our attention has been drawn to the deplorable state of the environment around Ladipo Market, Mushin Market and Oyingbo Market due to the reckless waste disposal by traders.
Despite serving them reduction notices, they have continued the senseless environmental violation.
We have no choice but to obtain the necessary sanction of closing the markets.
This is also intended to act as a deterrent to other nonchalant markets.”
He said the agency had recently redoubled its efforts to ensure business activities in all Lagos markets were conducted in a clean and safe environment for the benefit of all.
Odumboni further noted, “We have intensified our sanitation efforts, using trucks to clean up black spots across the metropolis, particularly in business establishments.
However, these efforts are hampered by the activities of mischievous individuals who would rather dump their waste on the streets than pay for waste services.”
He urged traders in other markets to strictly adhere to environmental sanitation or risk indefinite closure of their markets.
In another development, a mobile court in Ohodi has convicted two environmental offenders of burning rubbish and dumping rubbish down drains when it rained. Both were arrested on the Ikeja and Lekki axes respectively.
The first perpetrator was sentenced to two counts: one year in prison or a fine of ₦50,000 and one month in prison without the possibility of a fine.
The second offender was remanded in a correctional facility awaiting bail.
The LAWMA chief reiterated the agency’s determination to stamp out all forms of indiscriminate waste disposal in the metropolis, adding that the enforcement team has been tasked with monitoring the environment and arresting individuals intent on compromising the agency’s efforts derail to make Lagos cleaner and more livable.
He appealed to residents to develop the habit of effective waste management by packing their waste in bags and containers to facilitate evacuation through assigned PSPs, adding that delays in evacuation through PSPs assigned to the agency through their toll-free lines should be reported sorry if caught would not be entertained.
If you have any questions about waste management at your site, please call the LAWMA toll-free numbers: 07080601020 and 617.
