The Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, enforcement team today arrested some residents of houses 20 and 22 on Olumo street, Off Alabede, street, Pipeline, Aboru, for dumping refuse in the drainage during last Thursday’s heavy downpour.
The arrest followed a report by Community Standard, which highlighted, with pictorial evidence, how the residents were emptying their refuse in the drainage as the rain was pouring heavily.
The leader of the enforcement team confirmed the arrest.
He told Community Standard that the little children in the pictures were identified, and they said it was their elderly ones that asked to dump the refuse in the drainage.
He said the elderly ones have been arrested and would face the court tomorrow (Monday).
He, however, said the houses were not sealed but had been issued warning.
“We don’t seal houses like that. It has to follow due process,” he explained.
During the enforcement operation, residents of Olumo and adjourning streets were seen in their numbers witnessing the whole scene.
An elderly woman was said to have informed the enforcement team that she had been warning the perpetrators of the anti-environment act to desist but they would not listen.
Community Standard understands that it is the habit of some residents of Olumo and environs to be dumping refuse in the drainages whenever it rains.
Whenever those residents dump the refuse, it moves down to either block the drainage at another point or litters the frontage of other residents living at the end of the street.
“Funny part is that we that live at downward of the street suffer for the mess. Sometimes, me and other neighbors will enter the gutter to pack out the garbage.” Kolawole Adegbuyi, one of the residents said.
The LAWMA enforcement team leader urged residents to desist from the act, and report other perpetrators to the authorities.
