A Lagos State Magistrate’s court in Oshodi has imposed fines on 10 individuals who were found guilty of violating environmental regulations.

Magistrate Daniel Njokwu handed down various fines to these individuals as a result of their convictions.

These individuals were apprehended within the past 24 hours by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) for engaging in irresponsible disposal of waste.

The individuals who were convicted are Aminu Kanjau, Sunday Jesuseye, Mrs. Ojo, Ohamara Chidinma, Tawa Yusuf, Ojebunmi Mohammed, Abdulahi Mohammed Lawal, Segun Alaoye, Chinecherem Nkwako, and Gafar Ajose.

The charge sheet reads: “That you the above-named persons on October 16, at about 9:00p.m. and 7:00a.m. along Surulere, Ikeja, and Lagos Island, in the Magisterial District, did improperly disposed refuse, and hereby committed an offence punishable under item 1 first schedule of the Environmental  Management  Protection Laws of Lagos State 2017.”

They pleaded guilty to the charge and were convicted accordingly. Reacting, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the era of people treating the environment with disdain was over, as the agency would go hard on individuals, and entities that flouted environmental laws of the state.

He said: “I want to assure Lagosians that LAWMA is totally committed to establishing proper waste management culture across the metropolis. The Authority will not condone acts of indiscriminate waste dumping, capable of putting the health of residents at risk, and eroding efforts made for a sustainable environment.”
  
Gbadegesin said the enforcement team of LAWMA has been strategically positioned to work round the metropolis, apprehending those who would want to hide under the cover of darkness, to dump waste at unauthorised locations, adding that the agency was also collaborating with sister agencies like the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), in its determined enforcement drive.
  
He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to making the cityscape sustainably clean, urging residents to support the authority’s efforts by shunning indiscriminate waste disposal, patronising assigned Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators, and paying their waste bills promptly.