A woman identified as Ms. Amaka Onuchkwu was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, June 3, 2025, while allegedly attempting to dump refuse illegally at the Akesan bus stop along LASU-Iba Road in Lagos State.
The arrest was made at exactly 5:47 a.m. by the Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), according to a statement shared by LAWMA’s Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on X (formerly Twitter).
Gbadegesin stated that the arrest was made in line with the state’s efforts to enforce environmental laws against indiscriminate dumping of waste.
“Geo-tagged photos and videos were taken as evidence before the suspect was transferred to the Oshodi Environmental Taskforce Office,” he wrote.
Attempts to trace Onuchkwu’s residential address were reportedly unsuccessful. LAWMA confirmed that the case file, along with the digital evidence, has been forwarded to its legal unit for prosecution under the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law.
The arrest sparked mixed reactions online. While some users praised the enforcement, others criticised the government for not providing adequate waste disposal infrastructure.
One user wrote, “This is the same person who would complain that Lagos is dirty.” Another commented, “Why arrest someone for dumping refuse when waste collection in many areas is non-functional?”
Critics also argued that without regular waste pickup and designated bins, residents are left with limited options for proper disposal.
