Lagos arrests 931 persons for environmental offences in one year

The Lagos State Government says 931 persons were arrested for waste offences during intensified environmental enforcement operations conducted across the state within one year.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, on Sunday.

Wahab said the ministry strengthened Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance operations to ensure stricter adherence to environmental laws and sanitation standards statewide.

He said, “Through the agency’s enforcement drive, 931 persons were apprehended for waste offences, 2,251 sites inspected, 1,711 contravention notices issued and 239 sites sealed.”

He added that enforcement teams evacuated more than 650 tonnes of construction waste during the review period across different parts of the state.

“The agency evacuated over 650 tonnes of construction waste and sustained awareness on demolition and disaster waste through stakeholder engagement,” Wahab said.

According to him, the government also intensified environmental monitoring through the installation of modern air quality monitoring systems across Lagos.

Wahab said the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency completed 114 installations of air quality sensors and rehabilitated pollution abatement facilities statewide.

“The agency successfully completed 114 installations of air quality sensors and rehabilitated air pollution abatement facilities across the state,” he said.

He explained that the initiative was designed to improve air quality management, reduce pollution and protect residents’ health.

Wahab added that cleaner fish processing technology was introduced at Ago Egun through the deployment of improved fish kilns.

“In addition, cleaner fish processing technology introduced at Ago Egun reduced smoke emissions, improved air quality and protected the health of local processors,” he said.

The commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stronger environmental compliance and cleaner communities through technology-driven enforcement.