The Lagos State Government has arrested three individuals for allegedly engaging in illegal waste dumping in the Ketu-Alapere area as authorities intensify enforcement against environmental violations across the state.
The arrests were disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources.
According to the statement, the enforcement operation was carried out by the Lagos Waste Management Authority Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team during an overnight monitoring exercise conducted between May 8 and 9, 2026, within the Ketu-Alapere axis.
The commissioner stated that the suspects were apprehended while illegally disposing of refuse at unauthorised locations in the area.
“As part of ongoing efforts to eliminate illegal waste dumping within the state, the LAWMA Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team conducted an overnight surveillance operation from May 8 to 9, 2026, in the Ketu Alapere axis,” the statement said.
“During this operation, three individuals were apprehended for unlawfully disposing of waste in unauthorised locations. To deter further misconduct, they were all traced to their residences to investigate the motives behind their actions.”
Further investigations reportedly showed that the properties linked to the suspects lacked proper waste storage facilities and were not registered with designated Private Sector Participant operators responsible for waste collection services in the state.
The statement added that all affected properties had been documented and forwarded to the LAWMA legal department for possible prosecution.
“Subsequent investigations revealed that their properties lack proper waste storage facilities and that they have failed to register their properties with the designated PSP operators.
“All documented properties have been forwarded to the LAWMA legal department for further legal action. Additionally, all identified blackspots were effectively mitigated,” the statement added.
The state government has repeatedly warned residents against indiscriminate waste disposal, stressing that violators of environmental laws would face sanctions as part of efforts to maintain cleanliness and improve public health across the metropolis.
