Lagos council adopts multi-agency strategy against refuse dumping

The Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State has adopted a multi-agency approach to tackle indiscriminate refuse disposal across the community.
 

The LCDA Chairman, Dr Lukmon Agbaje, disclosed this on Monday at an environmental stakeholders’ meeting.
 
Agbaje said the council had equipped its new environmental task force with a patrol van to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.
 
He added that two patrol vans had been handed over to divisional police stations within the LCDA to support regular patrols.
 
According to him, the initiative would strengthen collaboration between security agencies and the council’s environmental enforcement structure.
 
“This multi-agency approach is particularly important because effective environmental enforcement requires continuous surveillance, rapid response and strong institutional cooperation,” Agbaje said.
 
He said the LCDA would continue working with the Police, Lagos Neighbourhoods Security Corps (LNSC), Man O’ War and Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
 
The chairman said the environmental enforcement team would conduct daily operations to apprehend offenders violating environmental regulations.

He added that those found dumping refuse indiscriminately would be taken to the Safety Arena in Oshodi, for prosecution.
 
“This demonstrates that the LCDA is not adopting a reactive approach to environmental challenges,” Agbaje said.
 
He noted that waste evacuation remained necessary, but enforcement and deterrence were equally important to prevent repeated violations.
 
Agbaje said the LCDA recently conducted the “Operation Show Your PSP Receipt” exercise with personnel from the LAWMA.
 
He said the exercise was designed to ensure residents and businesses were connected to approved Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste collectors.
 
He noted that PSP operators found performing below required standards were sanctioned and issued queries.
 
“A functional waste management system requires effective collection at the point of generation, timely evacuation and proper disposal,” he said.
 
Agbaje said the LCDA would continue engaging LAWMA and PSP operators to address service gaps and improve waste management.
 
Mr Olabode Okeowo, the LCDA Supervisor for Environment and Waste Management, said his team had collaborated with LAWMA on an inspection tour.
 
Okeowo said the exercise would assess environmental conditions, identify areas needing urgent intervention and evaluate ongoing sanitation activities.
 
He added that comprehensive waste evacuation would resume with intensified enforcement, in line with Lagos State Government directives.
 
“Sustainable environmental cleanliness cannot be achieved through government intervention alone,” Okeowo said.

He urged residents, traders, businesses, market operators, transport operators and community leaders to complement government efforts through responsible waste disposal.
 
Mr Pius Ade-Babalege, a community leader, drew attention to environmental challenges within the LCDA and urged proactive measures.
 
He said continuous dumping at unauthorised locations created avoidable environmental challenges and placed additional pressure on government resources.
 
Ade-Babalege urged residents to patronise approved PSP operators and avoid dumping refuse on roadsides, drainage channels and other unauthorised locations.