Man arrested over refuse dumping in Lagos

The Lagos State Government has arrested a 56-year-old man, John Ehidreme, for allegedly dumping refuse into a drainage channel in Ikorodu as part of its ongoing crackdown on environmental violations.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the arrest on Tuesday, saying officials of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce apprehended Ehidreme at his residence on No. 18 Oluoga, Ikorodu.

Wahab said indiscriminate waste disposal violates the state’s environmental laws, warning that blocked drainage channels contribute to flooding and pose serious public health and environmental risks.

The latest arrest comes days after another enforcement operation in the Pedro area of Shomolu, where a resident, identified as Ms. McCarthy, was arrested after she allegedly directed her child to dump refuse into a covered drainage system.

Condemning the incident, the commissioner urged parents to instill environmental responsibility in their children, stressing that acts that damage public infrastructure or obstruct drainage channels would not be tolerated.

He called on residents to use approved waste disposal channels and comply with environmental regulations, noting that public cooperation remains essential to keeping Lagos clean and reducing the risk of flooding.