The Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, has disengaged a number of street sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider overseeing their operations following allegations of indiscriminate waste disposal in parts of the state.
LAWMA said its investigations and surveillance established that the affected workers were involved in dumping refuse on the median along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis.
The area has been identified as a recurring waste disposal hotspot in Lagos.
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the development in a statement published on the authority’s social media platforms on Saturday.
Gbadegesin said investigations conducted by the authority linked the affected sweepers to the alleged illegal dumping, adding that some of them reportedly admitted their involvement during questioning.
He said the disengagement was necessary to reinforce accountability among personnel and contractors responsible for maintaining environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider were disengaged from the cleaning operation to underscore the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that all personnel and service providers engaged in waste management in the State upheld the standards expected of them and did not contribute to the environmental challenges they were engaged to address,” he said.
The LAWMA chief executive warned that investigations would continue at locations across Lagos where indiscriminate waste disposal remains a recurring problem.
He added that individuals and organisations found to be contributing to the environmental challenges would face appropriate sanctions.
“Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part. Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,” Gbadegesin added.
In a related development, LAWMA enforcement officers arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.
One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, a load carrier, was allegedly apprehended while dumping refuse on the road median with a wheelbarrow.
A second suspect, described as a cart pusher, was also arrested for allegedly carrying out unauthorised waste collection in the area.
Both suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office (Mobile Court) for further investigation and possible prosecution under Lagos State environmental laws.
LAWMA urged residents, businesses and waste collectors across the state to use approved waste disposal channels.
The authority also advised members of the public to patronise only authorised Private Sector Participants, PSPs, for waste collection.
LAWMA sacks street sweepers, service provider over indiscriminate waste dumping in Lagos