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.
The figures are contained in the agency’s 2025 Waste Surveillance Statistics obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
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. During the review period, surveillance teams also identified 431 scavengers operating illegally and reconciled 145 properties with their assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators.
LAWMA disclosed that most illegal dumping incidents occurred between midnight and the early hours of the morning, with residential waste, construction debris and hazardous materials among the common offences.
According to the agency, the 2025 statistics reflect an intensified enforcement drive that has continued into 2026, with increased monitoring and compliance operations statewide.
In recent weeks, LAWMA’s Waste Surveillance, Investigation and Enforcement unit arrested several individuals for indiscriminate waste disposal at identified hotspots. Earlier in 2026, officials also intercepted and confiscated waste carts used by unregistered collectors on Lagos Island.
An individual was apprehended for dumping refuse near Tinubu Square in the early hours, while another operation uncovered an unauthorised dumpsite along the Lagos–Badagry Expressway, leading to the arrest of suspected cart pushers linked to illegal waste disposal.
Speaking on the development, LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the agency would sustain enforcement efforts to prevent the resurgence of illegal dumpsites.
“These sustained enforcement activities strengthen deterrence and protect cleared sites from renewed abuse. We are strategically deploying enforcement operatives across the state to eliminate persistent black spots and ensure compliance with environmental sanitation laws,” he said.
Gbadegesin reiterated the agency’s commitment to public education, enforcement and prosecution as critical tools in achieving 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.
LAWMA, a statutory agency of the Lagos State Government, is responsible for managing solid waste and sanitation across the state, addressing challenges arising from rapid urbanisation, population growth and increased economic activity.