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Peters & Peters

ESG Enforcement Tracker

Charting the rise of criminal and regulatory enforcement

Lagos court convicts 16 over environmental offences

Date:
6 July 2026
Relevant legislation/regulation:
Lagos Waste Management Authority Law 2007 (as amended), Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law 2017 and Lagos State environmental sanitation and waste management regulations requiring the use of approved PSP waste operators
Jurisdiction:
Nigeria
Status:
New, Closed
Regulator/enforcement authority:
Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos Special Offences and Mobile Court
ESG Category:
Environmental
Defendant(s)/subjects(s):
16 individuals

Key Facts:

A Lagos Special Offences and Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi has convicted 16 individuals for environmental offences following prosecutions brought by the LAWMA. The offenders were arraigned on 6 July 2026 before the Oshodi Special Offences and Mobile Court. The convictions arose from enforcement operations conducted along the Gbagada Expressway and in Anthony Oke, Oworonsoki and Bariga, where the individuals were alleged to have disposed of waste on road medians, drainage channels and other unauthorised locations, contrary to Lagos State environmental laws.

The defendants each faced four counts relating to indiscriminate waste disposal, failure to utilise approved Private Sector Participant (PSP) waste collection services, and other breaches of environmental sanitation requirements. Upon conviction, the court imposed custodial sentences of four months’ imprisonment on each defendant, comprising one month for each count.

LAWMA stated that it had secured the convictions as part of its broader environmental enforcement programme. LAWMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, stated that the judgment demonstrated the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws and protecting public health.

LAWMA further indicated that enforcement, surveillance and monitoring activities would continue in collaboration with relevant agencies. Residents and businesses were encouraged to comply with approved waste management practices, engage authorised PSP operators and report incidents of illegal waste disposal through official channels. The authority emphasised that effective waste management requires cooperation between government, businesses and the public to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.

Sources: 

Guardian article

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