83 jailed, over 3,000 fined, 1,200 penalised for indiscriminate waste offences in Lagos

…State, operators, to review tariff by 50% over high cost of diesel, other operational cost

Eighty three persons have been convicted and jailed, over 1,200 penalised to sweep and over 3,000 fined having been found guilty of committing various forms of offences relating to indiscriminate disposal of waste in Lagos, in the last one year.
This is just as the state government has disclosed sustainability measures to keep operations of waste management processes abreast with rising challenges.
In a press briefing on Wednesday on the state of affairs on waste management in Lagos, updates on activities from the beginning of 2022 till August, recent challenges solutions and sustainability measures put in place by the Agency, the MD/CEO, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA) Ibrahim Odumboni, said the prosecution of the offenders was necessitated to deter bad culture to waste management.
“Eighty three people were jailed last year from waste related offences. Over 1,200 did community services – they joined our sweepers to sweep and do the job very well and over 3,000 were fined. But the most important thing, for us is why don’t we ensure we do the right thing.
“For people out there, who continue to migrate and dump waste indiscriminately, any time you are caught, you would be held responsible and would face the wrath of the law,” he said.
According to him, the Enforcement team set up by the Agency has become very active, and has ceased over 1,400 carts across the State in the last two months.
Odumboni said truck pushers are guilty of dumping waste in carnals and drainage systems, causing menace of flooding in the process.
He said, having extended hands of fellowship to cart pushers on how they can work with the LAWMA to formalise their operations, the Agency would not take it lightly with those who kick against the hands of fellowship and rules of engagement.
He frowned at mischievous offenders who inflict attacks on workers and facilities of the Agency, saying it has fostered engagement with law enforcement agents to bring culprits to book.
The LAWMA boss said the Agency is now working with LASTMA, the Neighborhood Watch and other security agencies to prosecute those caught on the live time metropolitan cameras across the State.
He said mischievous resorts has been observed from people who migrate and dump waste indiscriminately.
According to him, poor attitudes to waste management, recent rainfall, and particularly the recent cost of diesel have posed huge challenges to the cost of operation.
He noted that the number of PSP trucks operating in the State have been upscaled under the present Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration from about 627 to over 1,100, higher than those of New York, about 150 of which are operated by LAWMA.
He, however, lamented that the rising cost of diesel from the 1st quarter of this year, has posed huge challenges for operators.
“Of the key things we face as challenges for the PSP, the first of it is the rising cost of operation, the cost of overheads, majorly diesel, and spare parts for those trucks that PSP use,” he said.
He disclosed that with the reality, a tariff review is under consideration, noting that the pricing review to commence 1st October this year with critical engagement with stakeholders, is projected for about 50 percent increase, which he said would however be subject to peculiar circumstances.
He disclosed that the Agency has commenced the process of dual fuel system for trucks. This has seen two trucks having already been converted to dual fuel system – 50 percent diesel and 50 percent gas for efficiency.
He, however, said to keep the operators afloat, the State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reached conclusion to make fuel subsidy arrangements for the operators, which according to him, was to cushion the impacts of high cost of diesel bitting hard on operators.
Efforts, he said, have been put in place for enhanced waste management system including encouraging local content; introducing CNG powered trucks; construction of Sanitary Land Fill; discussion over developing Waste to Energy Facilities; Construction of brand new Landfills; Construction of additional Transfer Loading Stations for every local government; recycling of waste.
Others are back-to-back night operations from 11:00pm-4:00pm; efforts focused on markets; additional reforms for operation enhancement; monitoring the performance of PSP operators.
In his remarks, Chairman, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Mr. David Oriyomi, assured Lagosians that with the support of the state government, efforts would be harmonised to address the prevailing challenges, particularly those relating to exchange rate and rising diesel price which have informed high cost of operation.

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