Lagos arrests woman for allegedly encouraging child to dump refuse in drainage
LASG
Abdullateef Fowewe
The operatives of Lagos State government have arrested a woman identified as McCarthy for allegedly directing her child to dispose of refuse into a covered drainage channel, in violation of the state’s environmental laws.
According to a statement on Monday by the Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, enforcement officers acted promptly on a report received earlier today at No. 56 Adaranijo Street, Pedro, Shomolu.
However, videos accompanying the announcement show a young boy emptying contents from a container into street drainage and the arrested woman standing outside a facility.
In a statement, the Commissioner emphasised, “We expect every resident to act responsibly and to educate their children on the importance of protecting public infrastructure, particularly drainage systems. Encouraging acts that contribute to blocked drains and environmental degradation is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
He added that a clean, safe, and flood-resilient environment is a shared responsibility, urging residents to dispose of waste properly.
The Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has maintained a firm zero-tolerance policy toward environmental violations, particularly illegal waste dumping that exacerbates flooding in the densely populated metropolis.
The state has intensified enforcement through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Recent measures include hefty fines (such as ₦250,000 or three-month jail terms for certain offenses), arrests of thousands of violators, demolition of illegal structures contributing to environmental nuisances, and plans for enhanced monitoring like a “Waste Police” initiative.
Dumping in drains, canals, and unauthorised areas is explicitly prohibited under state environmental laws, as blocked drainage systems are a major contributor to recurrent flooding during the rainy season.
