Project WISE (West) operatives, in synergy with Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA Health Department, apprehend offender for creating hazardous waste pit
Mercy Ejibunu
LAGOS – The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has marked World Cleanup Day with a series of coordinated cleanup operations across the state, even as its enforcement teams continued to tackle environmental violations. Operatives of LAWMA Project WISE (West), in synergy with the Head of the Health Department of Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA and her team, made a swift enforcement response at No. 14, Akinwande Street, Ipaja, within the Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area. The operation followed the discovery of waste buried inside a self-created pit on the premises, an environmental infraction that constituted a hazard to the community.
According to the Authority, the offender failed to comply with enforcement operatives’ directives to carry out quick waste evacuation and sensitisation within the stipulated 48-hour window. The failure to comply prompted the sealing of the premises and the apprehension of the offender on Saturday, 19 September 2026. The operation reflects LAWMA’s sustained commitment to addressing environmental violations at the grassroots level through inter-agency collaboration with local government health departments.
In commemoration of World Cleanup Day, LAWMA sweepers were deployed across multiple locations in conjunction with Green Janitors. Cleanup activities were carried out at the Olorunda LCDA Secretariat, the Badagry Roundabout, Igando Market, and Oke-Afa Market in Isolo. The exercise, which involved street sweeping, waste evacuation, and general sanitation, formed part of the Authority’s broader efforts to promote environmental cleanliness and community participation in waste management.
In a separate operation, the LAWMA Vegetal Control Gang continued its weeklong activities in Victoria Island, clearing overgrown vegetation along key corridors. On Monday, the gang carried out vegetal control along Bonny Camp, followed by work along Ahmedu Bello Way. The exercise is part of the Authority’s ongoing efforts to maintain aesthetic standards, improve visibility for motorists, and prevent the environmental nuisance associated with unchecked vegetation growth in the state’s commercial districts.
The Authority reiterated that environmental offences, including the improper burial of waste and the creation of unauthorised waste pits, pose serious risks to public health and the environment. Residents and business owners are urged to dispose of waste responsibly through approved channels and to cooperate with enforcement teams during inspection and compliance exercises. LAWMA reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining enforcement operations and cleanup activities across Lagos, working with local governments, health departments, Green Janitors, and other stakeholders to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment.
