Lagos seals shops over illegal waste disposal in Yaba, Tejuosho

The Lagos State Government has sealed shops along the Tejuosho-Ojuelegba and Yaba-Tejuosho corridors over persistent environmental sanitation violations and indiscriminate waste disposal.

The enforcement was carried out by the Waste Investigation, Surveillance and Enforcement (WISE) team of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The team worked alongside the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, OP MESA military personnel and the Nigeria Police.

At the Tejuosho-Ojuelegba corridor, the operation covered Modele Street, Fagbile Street and Maja Street.

LAWMA said the enforcement followed persistent sanitation violations in the areas, in spite of sustained advocacy, repeated warnings and previous engagements.

Along the Yaba-Tejuosho corridor, enforcement covered Kilani Street, Lisabi Street, Matthew Street, Pearce Street and Banjo Street.

The agency said investigations showed that many of the affected properties were occupied by fashion designers, tailoring workshops and clothing merchants.

It alleged that the businesses generated large quantities of textile offcuts and fabric waste daily, which were routinely dumped on road medians instead of being channelled through approved waste collection systems.

According to the statements, many of the businesses also relied on illegal cart pushers for waste evacuation.

LAWMA said the practice encouraged indiscriminate dumping and recurring waste accumulation along the corridors.

It also alleged that many of the affected premises had not patronised their assigned Private Sector Participation operators for the past five years.

The agency said repeated advocacy and warnings had failed to secure compliance with environmental laws.

It said the enforcement was aimed at restoring environmental order, protecting public infrastructure and ensuring proper waste management practices.

Gbadegesin said the objective of the enforcement was compliance rather than punishment.

He urged businesses and residents to patronise their assigned PSP operators, dispose of waste responsibly and keep their surroundings clean.

He added that the affected shops would remain sealed until the required sanitation standards were met and full compliance with environmental regulations achieved.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖