The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has disengaged some street sweepers, supervisors and a service provider over alleged indiscriminate waste dumping along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis of the state.

The LAWMA managing director and chief executive officer, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Gbadegesin said the action followed sustained investigations and surveillance of the median, which had been identified as a recurring waste hotspot.

He said investigations established the involvement of the affected sweepers in indiscriminate dumping, with the workers also confessing to the act.

He said the disengagement was aimed at reinforcing the authority’s commitment to maintaining high standards among personnel and service providers.

He warned that anyone involved in waste management must not contribute to the environmental challenges they were engaged to address.

“Our responsibility is to keep Lagos clean, and everyone involved in that responsibility must play their part.

“Where our investigations establish that anyone is contributing to the problem, appropriate action will be taken. There will be no exceptions,” he said.

The LAWMA boss said the authority would continue to investigate recurring waste hotspots and sanction anyone found contributing to indiscriminate waste disposal.

He said the enforcement would be carried out irrespective of the status or role of those involved in the waste management system.

Mr Gbadegesin urged residents, businesses and waste collectors to dispose of waste through approved channels.

He also advised residents to patronise only assigned private sector participants authorised to collect waste.

The LAWMA chief stressed that waste management personnel and service providers must uphold the same standards expected of other stakeholders.

He said surveillance would be sustained along the Berger-Oworonshoki axis and other identified waste hotspots.

Mr Gbadegesin added that further enforcement action would be taken whenever investigations established violations.

In a related development, LAWMA enforcement officials arrested two suspected illegal waste dumpers around the Berger-Oworonshoki axis.

“One of the suspects, identified as Timileyin Ojo, a load carrier, allegedly used a wheelbarrow to dump waste on the road median.

“The second suspect, identified as a suspected cart pusher, was allegedly involved in unauthorised waste collection within the area.

“The suspects were taken to the Oshodi Task Force Office (Mobile Court) for further investigation and prosecution under relevant environmental laws,” he said.

The LAWMA boss urged residents to report cases of indiscriminate dumping and unauthorised waste collection through appropriate channels.

He also called for public support for ongoing efforts to achieve a cleaner Lagos. 

(NAN)