A Magistrate’s Court in Oshodi has handed down community service sentences to nineteen individuals apprehended for indiscriminate waste dumping.
The proceedings, presided over by Magistrate Ademola Adesanya, saw a total of 24 individuals brought before the court. After careful consideration, 19 were ordered to carry out community service, involving thorough cleaning, grass cutting, and sweeping of Oshodi Isolo Local Government community, while five minors were warned to desist from improper waste disposal or risk being sent to Juvenile Court.
The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, in a statement, commended the court’s firm stance in combating environmental offences, reiterating the zero tolerance policy of the state government, for indiscriminate waste dumping.
He said, “This decisive action by the Magistrate’s Court is a significant step towards maintaining a clean and healthy environment for all residents. It sends a clear message that waste management regulations will be rigorously enforced, and offenders will face the full force of the law.”
Gbadegesin disclosed that the exercise would be a continuous one and emphasised the need for people to take responsibility for upholding proper waste management practices, adding that improper disposal of waste not only jeopardised public health but also had far-reaching environmental consequences.
“The exercise is ongoing. We must all take ownership of our environment. Responsible waste management is not just a legal obligation, but a moral one. It is imperative for every individual to play their part in preserving the beauty and sustainability of our communities”, he stated.
LAWMA, in collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), has stepped up enforcement against indiscriminate waste dumping in the metropolis. It would be recalled that earlier in the week, 10 persons were fined by the Magistrate’s Court for the environmental offences.