Lagos court sentences man to 13 months community service for illegal waste dumping

By Johnson Arua

A Special Offences Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi, Lagos State, on Monday sentenced a 48-year-old man, Makinde Rasaq, to 13 months of community service at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for unlawfully dumping refuse in Lagos Island.

Rasaq was arrested while driving a Honda SUV loaded with waste and pleaded guilty to seven offences, including breach of peace, indiscriminate disposal of refuse, failure to patronize approved Private Sector Partnership (PSP) waste operators, illegal transportation of waste without a valid licence, and obstruction of environmental enforcement officers in the course of their duties.

The court ordered that all the counts be served as community service, bringing the total sentence to 13 months.

The convict was apprehended on Saturday night while dumping refuse at the Tinubu Fountain area in Central Lagos.

Authorities suspect he is part of an organised group deliberately spreading waste in public spaces to create a negative image of the city.

Following his arrest, Rasaq was initially detained at the Adeniji Adele Police Station before being handed over to officers of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) for arraignment by officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Reacting to the conviction, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the judgment underscored the state government’s zero tolerance for illegal waste disposal.

“This conviction is a clear declaration that Lagos will not tolerate indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Gbadegesin said, urging residents to always dispose of waste through LAWMA-accredited PSP operators in line with the state’s environmental laws.

He added that while waste generation is inevitable, compliance with proper disposal procedures remains essential to sustaining a clean and healthy environment in the state.