Mr Sesan Olowa, Chairman, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, says the council’s ‘Arrest and Prosecute ‘ offenders, who illegally and indiscriminately dump wastes on streets had begun.
The chairman also disclosed that the council arrested five people for allegedly dumping wastes indiscriminately and they had been charged to Court.
He disclosed this on Tuesday at a news conference in Ibeju-Lekki, warning that no offender would be spared.
Olowa said the council’s warning period is over, explaining displeasure that all the warnings against indiscriminate dumping of refuse were defied by residents and would now take action to stop the infractions.
He said that Ibeju-Lekki declared zero-tolerance on environmental infractions, stressing that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
According to him, illegal waste disposal poses serious health hazards, causes flooding, and undermines the government’s efforts to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
The chairman urged residents, market women, traders, and business operators to embrace proper waste management practices and ensure that their refuse are disposed of, through approved channels.
He added that the council had intensified collaboration with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to ensure prompt evacuation of refuse and to monitor compliance across communities in the area.
Olowa also disclosed that environmental health officers and taskforce officials had been mandated to embark on routine inspections and enforce environmental sanitation laws without fear.
He, however, appealed to residents to join hands with the government in promoting a clean and safe environment, stressing that a healthy society could only be achieved through collective responsibility.
He noted that the council environmental officers are out there monitoring and any offender caught will face the law.
He appealed to residents to comply with the Lagos state environmental law by disposing their wastes properly. (NAN)
