A mobile court has sentenced a woman, Rukayat Oderinde to 144 hours of community service for emptying her wastes into a drainage channel at No. 17 Hassan Ogumola Street, Ahamadiyya, a suburb of Lagos.
The court is attached to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the authority Authority, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.
Odumboni said that the culprit was caught red-handed on camera while she was disposing of her household waste directly into a drainage channel.
According to him, Oderinde is expected to commence her eight-hour per day community service from Ahmadiyya to Salolo route, for the next 18 days, cleaning the environment.
The CEO said that the act was 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
Odumboni said that improper waste disposal, particularly through drainage channels, could lead to clogged drains, which in turn caused flooding during heavy rains.
He said that wastes disposed in drainage channels disrupted daily life and also jeopardised the safety and health of the community.
“Blockage 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.
“The woman was arrested and sentenced to 144 hours of community service by the court, for violating waste management regulations.
“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 said.
Odumboni reminded residents to cultivate proper methods of waste disposal and avoid potential consequences of non-compliance, urging them to use designated waste bins and containers for their household waste.
He implored Lagos residents to patronise assigned Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators whose duty was to ensure seamless disposal of waste generated by tenements.
Odumboni urged Lagos residents to call LAWMA’s toll-free numbers 07080601020 and 617, for any environmental infractions observed in their area.
By Fabian Ekeruche
