- LAWMA Records 1,023 Illegal Dumping Cases in 2025
- 447 Sent for Prosecution
- Gbadegesin said the agency would sustain operations to safeguard cleared areas from renewed abuse
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) recorded 1,023 cases of illegal dumping and other waste management violations across Lagos in 2025, with 447 offenders referred for prosecution.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the figures are contained in the agency’s 2025 Waste Surveillance Statistics obtained in Lagos.
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A breakdown of the data shows that 230 males and 217 females were referred for legal action, representing 51 per cent and 49 per cent respectively.
LAWMA’s surveillance operations also identified 431 scavengers operating illegally and reconciled 145 properties with their assigned Private Sector Participation waste operators to ensure proper waste collection compliance.
According to the report, most illegal dumping incidents occurred between midnight and the early hours of the morning. Residential waste, construction debris and hazardous materials were among the most common offences.
The agency noted that the 2025 statistics reflect an intensified enforcement strategy that has continued into 2026. Officers from LAWMA’s Waste Surveillance, Investigation and Enforcement unit have sustained operations across the state, targeting known black spots.
Earlier this year, enforcement officials intercepted and seized waste carts used by unregulated collectors on Lagos Island.
In a related development, an individual was arrested for dumping refuse near Tinubu Square in the early hours of the morning, as part of efforts to prevent the return of illegal dumpsites in the area.
The agency also uncovered an unauthorised dumpsite along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, leading to the arrest of several cart pushers allegedly involved in illegal waste disposal.
Speaking on the enforcement drive, LAWMA Managing Director Muyiwa Gbadegesin said the agency would sustain operations to safeguard cleared areas from renewed abuse.
“These sustained enforcement activities strengthen deterrence and protect cleared sites from renewed abuse. We are strategically deploying enforcement operatives across the state to eradicate persistent black spots and ensure compliance with environmental sanitation laws,” he said.
Gbadegesin reiterated LAWMA’s commitment to public education, enforcement and prosecution as key pillars of its mandate to deliver a cleaner and healthier Lagos. He urged residents to dispose of waste through authorised channels, patronise registered PSP operators and report illegal dumping through official LAWMA platforms.
