The Lagos State Government has announced plans to prosecute two individuals arrested for the illegal dumping of refuse.
According to the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the suspects—Simeon David Akpata, 22, and Oluwamotemi Otunba, 28—were apprehended on Wednesday along Ebute-Ipakodo Road in the Ikorodu area of the state.
Their arrest was facilitated by a vigilant resident who witnessed the act and alerted authorities.
“Simeon David Akpata – 22yrs and Miss Oluwamotemi Otunba – 28yrs were found dumping refuse along Ebute- Ipakodo Road earlier today by a concerned Lagosian who accosted and ensured that they were arrested by our enforcement agents.
“They will be tried immediately in accordance with the relevant laws of the state,” Wahab stated on X.
Wahab emphasized that maintaining a clean environment is a shared responsibility, urging residents to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal.
“While we appreciate the effort of this concerned Lagosian, we reiterate that a Cleaner Lagos is a collective responsibility of everyone. Keep your environment clean and stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the drainages,” he added.
The arrests came less than 24 hours after 34 traders were remanded in prison for trading on road medians.
The traders had been arrested during the weekend for selling goods along Ojo–Alaba Road and were subsequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi.
The court ordered their remand in prison custody until July 22.
“34 individuals were arrested during weekend monitoring operations along Ojo – Alaba Road, for selling on the road median.
“They were arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, and were remanded in prison custody till 22 Jul 25,” Wahab said on Tuesday.
The Lagos State Government has ramped up enforcement of environmental sanitation laws in recent months amid growing concerns over poor waste management, including blocked drainage systems and illegal refuse disposal.
During an inspection of Alaba Rago Market earlier this month, Wahab expressed dismay at the environmental violations he observed.
He noted that traders had turned road medians into dumping sites, illegally extended their stalls onto roadways, and obstructed drainage channels.
The Commissioner reiterated that trading on roads, medians, and drainage setbacks is a violation of Lagos State Environmental Laws.
He warned that non-compliant markets would face sanctions without exception.
The remand of the 34 traders follows closely on the heels of another recent crackdown.
Just days earlier, five residents were remanded in Kirikiri Correctional Centre for allegedly engaging in illegal waste disposal along the Iba-Igando Link Bridge.
The suspects—Moses Adelowokan, Oparinde Taiwo, Kassim Jamiu, and Ayo Jamiu—were charged with violating environmental laws and were remanded by the Magistrate Court in Bolade, Oshodi. Their trial is scheduled for July 9.
In a similar case, one Olawale Ogunbadejo was remanded in Kirikiri by a Magistrate’s Court in May for dumping refuse on a public road. His trial is set for June 26.
