Lagos Arrests Over 10,000 Residents for Environmental and Traffic Offences
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that more than 10,000 residents were arrested across the state for various environmental and traffic-related offences as part of ongoing enforcement efforts to maintain cleanliness and orderliness.
According to the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, a total of 5,715 persons were arrested for highway crossing offences, while 3,886 others were apprehended for street trading, environmental pollution and cart-pushing.
Another 102 individuals were arrested for open defecation, while 931 residents were prosecuted for various waste management violations.
Wahab disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, to commemorate the seventh year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the environment sector.
He stated that the government remains committed to building a cleaner, healthier and flood-resilient Lagos through improved environmental policies, strategic partnerships and sustainable waste management initiatives.
The commissioner noted that the state had intensified enforcement operations through agencies under the ministry, leading to the arrest and prosecution of offenders as well as the removal of illegal traders and squatters from several locations.
He also highlighted the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which he said recorded massive participation from residents, local governments, private organisations and state officials.
As part of efforts to promote sustainable environmental practices, Wahab revealed that the government commissioned the Ikosi Waste-to-Energy Biodigester Plant located within the Ketu Fruit Market.
According to him, the facility converts organic waste into electricity, cooking gas and agricultural fertiliser while processing about 0.5 tonnes of organic waste daily.
He further disclosed that the state government withdrew the licences of five underperforming Private Sector Participation operators after an assessment exercise aimed at improving waste disposal services.
In addition, 35 new PSP operators were deployed to health facilities across Lagos’ three senatorial districts to strengthen healthcare waste management.
The commissioner also stated that Lagos sustained its ban on Styrofoam and single-use plastics, adding that over 137,000 kilograms of PET plastics had been removed from the environment within the past year.
He added that the state maintained its position as Nigeria’s leading state in climate governance for the second consecutive year.
On flood control, Wahab said the ministry carried out extensive dredging and drainage clearing projects across the state.
He noted that 18 primary drainage channels covering 76 kilometres and secondary channels spanning 178 kilometres were maintained and cleaned, while illegal structures obstructing drainage alignments were removed.
Speaking on water supply infrastructure, the commissioner disclosed that the rehabilitated Akilo Mini Waterworks, with a production capacity of one million gallons per day, had recently been commissioned.
He added that work was progressing steadily on the Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant and other potable water expansion projects across the state.