The Lagos State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal waste dumping and environmental violations, blaming indiscriminate refuse disposal for worsening flash floods across parts of the state during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection of the government-cleared median along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where officials assessed compliance with directives against illegal occupation and improper waste disposal.
According to Wahab, the state has invested significant public resources in restoring the corridor and will maintain continuous surveillance to prevent illegal activities from returning.
“We have done the work on the ground. The operation is once and for all, and we will patrol the area forever,” Wahab said.
He explained that the median is being preserved for the proposed Lagos rail corridor, dismissing suggestions that the land should be concessioned for landscaping or other commercial purposes.
“It is for the rail line coming this way. We have to keep it clean for them,” he added.
The commissioner urged residents to patronise registered Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators or contact the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in areas where PSP operators are unavailable.
According to him, much of the waste found on road medians originates from households that refuse to subscribe to approved waste collection services.
“Waste on the median comes from people’s homes that choose not to patronise PSP operators,” he said.
He also stressed that LAWMA and PSP operators have a responsibility to provide efficient waste collection services to residents who pay for them.
“For those paying, LAWMA and PSP operators owe them efficient service. There are no excuses,” he stated.
Over 1,000 Environmental Offenders Prosecuted
As part of its environmental enforcement drive, Wahab revealed that the Lagos State Government has prosecuted more than 1,000 environmental offenders over the past year.
He maintained that strict enforcement of environmental laws remains essential to improving sanitation and discouraging illegal waste disposal.
“Once there is a law, you must enforce it and attach consequences for bad behaviour,” he said.
Demolition of Illegal Structures to Combat Flooding
The latest enforcement follows the Lagos State Government’s recent directive ordering the demolition of illegal structures obstructing drainage channels and canal rights of way in Agungi, Ajiran, and Ikota.
According to the government, the exercise is aimed at reopening blocked drainage systems and removing buildings that have encroached on designated waterways.
Officials said the decision became necessary after persistent flooding continued in Agungi despite the completion of major drainage infrastructure more than two years ago. Authorities also identified a major obstruction at the Ajiran outfall channel during an inspection.
NiMet Warns of Increased Flash Flood Risk
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has warned of an increased risk of flash flooding in Lagos and other coastal states due to forecasts of sustained rainfall across southern Nigeria.
The agency advised residents, motorists, and businesses in flood-prone and low-lying communities to take precautionary measures, warning that continuous rainfall could result in temporary flooding in vulnerable areas.
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to enforcing environmental regulations while urging residents to properly dispose of waste and support efforts aimed at reducing flooding across the state.
