The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it has arrested several cart pushers for illegal waste disposal along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, Ojo.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mukaila Sanusi, director, public affairs, LAWMA, on Saturday in Lagos.

Mr Sanusi said the arrests followed the discovery of an unauthorised dumpsite during a routine monitoring exercise by LAWMA’s waste investigation, surveillance and enforcement team, Ijora–Seme division.

He said that the team, led by Oladeji Adebayo, apprehended the suspects while they were unlawfully dumping waste at the location.

Mr Sanusi quoted LAWMA’s managing director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, as saying that the activities of unregulated waste handlers degraded the environment and undermined the state’s structured waste management system.

Mr Gbadegesin reiterated that domestic waste collection in Lagos was exclusively handled by registered private sector participation (PSP) operators.

He warned residents against patronising cart pushers and other unauthorised collectors.

The LAWMA boss assured that surveillance and enforcement operations would be sustained across flashpoints, adding that offenders would be prosecuted in line with environmental sanitation laws.

He advised residents to bag their waste properly, register with approved PSP operators and report illegal dumping through LAWMA’s official channels.

(NAN)