The Lagos state Waste Management Authority says it has secured jail terms of two months for three persons for various environmental offences.
This is coming on the heels of the agency’s collaboration with the police to put a stop to incessant attacks on LAWMA’s personnel, ensuring the prompt arrest of cart pushers and those who patronised them.
Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, who made the disclosure at Ijora-Olopa, noted that the working arrangement with the police was aimed at sustaining renewed offensive on all forms of environmental infractions and unwarranted attacks on the agency’s personnel.
He said: “Last week, we got jail terms for three environmental offenders, with a pending sentence for another person who patronised a cart pusher, making it an offence for anyone to patronise a cart pusher.
“Before now, we had warned unrepentant environmental violators about our renewed offensive, urging them to shun bad practices. But some people will never change. For three such persons, we secured jail sentences of a minimum of two months while one is still pending.
“I am also happy about LAWMA’s collaboration with the Nigeria Police to end needless attacks on our personnel on day or night duty. That collaboration is also to put an end to cart pushing, as any cart pusher found anywhere in Lagos, will be promptly arrested and prosecuted, while those who patronise them will not be spared.”
He warned residents against patronising cart pushers, as both the cart pusher and the patron were liable, and would be accordingly prosecuted, adding that another set of 600 carts have been destroyed, bringing the total to about 3,000 in the last ten weeks.
The LAWMA boss said the agency has demolished carts impounded by its enforcement team in the course of their duty.
This, he said, is to further reinforce LAWMA’s stance that the activities of cart pushers across the Lagos metropolis remain banned and will not allow anyone or group of persons to undermine the ongoing efforts to establish a sustainable environment.
Odumboni then reiterated their willingness to absorb willing cart pushers into the waste management system in the state by offering them an opportunity to serve as off-takers of recyclable items, working hand in hand with other stakeholders in the waste management chain.
He also reaffirmed the agency’s total commitment to making the metropolis sustainably clean, urging residents to support the agency’s efforts by shunning improper waste disposal, paying their waste bills and patronising assigned PSP operators.
“The ill effects of cart pushing on our environment and security structure means that we have to eradicate it, to preserve lives and properties. Criminals now hide under the guise of cart pushing to carry out heinous crimes. However, as I stated earlier in the year, we are offering an opportunity to willing cart pushers to work with us, as off-takers, and by doing so have a viable means of livelihood.
