A woman, Rukayat Oderinde has been charged with illegal trash disposal and sentenced to 144 hours of community service by a Magistrate Court in Lagos. The Lagos Waste Management Authority’s (LAWMA’s) enforcement squad caught Oderinde, for improperly dumping her trash can into a drainage pipe.
The inmate of number, 17, Hassan Ogumola Street, Ahmadiyya, Lagos, was caught on camera doing something that was expressly forbidden by state waste management regulations because it posed a serious risk to the drainage system’s overall cleanliness and functionality.
For breaking waste management laws, the lady was detained and given a 144-hour community service term by the judge.
She is expected to begin her 18-day community service cleaning the environment from Ahmadiyya to Salolo.
Ibrahim Odumboni, the Managing Director of LAWMA, commented on the community service sentence. He said that inappropriate garbage disposal, particularly through drainage channels, might lead to clogged drains, causing floods during heavy rains.
According to him-
“This not only disrupted daily life but also jeopardised the safety and health of the community.
“Blockages 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.”
“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 reminded people of the need of using correct trash disposal techniques. He also spoke about the potential repercussions of noncompliance. Further advising people to utilise authorised garbage bins and containers for their household waste.
He advised the public to patronise designated Public Sector Participants (PSP) operators. Particularly those whose job it is to oversee the smooth disposal of garbage created by tenements. He added that people can reach LAWMA on toll-free numbers:
- 07080601020
- 617
Particularly if they notice any environmental violations in their neighbourhood.
cc: Vanguard Ng
