Dare Babalola
The Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) has arrested and prosecuted no fewer than 108 individuals for violating environmental sanitation laws in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The offenders were apprehended by OGWAMA’s enforcement team across various parts of the city while allegedly dumping refuse on roadsides, medians, and other public spaces in contravention of the state’s waste management regulations.
Speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Adeniyi Akintunde, disclosed that the offenders were arraigned before customary courts in Abeokuta and subsequently fined.
He said the enforcement action became necessary to deter residents who continue to flout environmental laws despite government efforts to ensure proper waste collection through designated operators.
“It is unfortunate that we have to go this route to stop some of our people from dumping waste indiscriminately on roadsides and in public places. We have sensitised, appealed and even encouraged them to hand over their waste to PSP operators assigned to their areas for proper disposal, but to no avail,” Akintunde said.
The government, he added, would sustain the crackdown until compliance improves, noting that indiscriminate waste disposal undermines ongoing efforts to maintain environmental cleanliness across the state.
“We are determined to continue this exercise until residents see the need to stop dumping waste indiscriminately, especially now that the state is wearing a new look in terms of proper waste management. Dumping waste in such a manner is not only unlawful but also dangerous, as it can lead to flooding and contaminate groundwater during the rainy season,” he added.
Akintunde further warned residents to desist from illegal dumping practices or face legal consequences, stressing that the state government would not tolerate actions that degrade the environment.
He urged residents to make use of approved waste disposal channels and cooperate with PSP operators to sustain a cleaner and healthier environment across Ogun State.
