Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Forty‑five residents of Ogun State have been arrested and sentenced to community service for dumping refuse on roadsides, highways and other public places, as the state government intensifies enforcement of environmental sanitation laws. The offenders were apprehended on Thursday by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) in the Panseke, Quarry Road and Kolobo areas of Abeokuta, the state capital, after they were caught dumping waste indiscriminately, in direct contravention of the state’s environmental laws.
The arrests mark the latest phase of an ongoing crackdown on environmental abuse in Ogun State. The enforcement exercise was conducted by OGWAMA’s special task force, which has been conducting targeted operations in identified black spots in Abeokuta and other major towns. The authority’s enforcement team had been monitoring the areas following complaints from residents about the accumulation of refuse on road medians, drainage channels and major highways. According to OGWAMA officials, the arrested individuals were caught red‑handed at different locations, disposing of waste in a manner that defaces the environment and poses serious health risks to the public.
Before the commencement of their community service, the offenders were addressed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on OGWAMA, Farook Akintunde, who outlined the implications of their actions. Akintunde noted that indiscriminate waste disposal defaces the aesthetic beauty of the state capital, contributes to the spread of diseases—especially airborne infections—and contaminates underground water sources, which is injurious to other residents of the state.
He expressed disappointment with their behavior, describing the offence as unpardonable, especially considering the massive public enlightenment campaigns that have been mounted against indiscriminate dumping of waste across various media platforms, and the clear directive for residents to patronize government‑licensed waste collectors assigned to their communities.
The OGWAMA boss told the offenders that they were being allowed to undertake community service as punishment because they had pleaded for leniency, signed written undertakings not to violate the law again, and immediately enrolled with approved private waste collectors in their respective areas.However, he issued a stern warning that anyone caught again for the same offence would be prosecuted in line with the state’s environmental laws, which prescribe stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
The adoption of community service as a punishment for waste‑related offences is part of a broader policy shift by the Ogun State Government. In December 2025, the Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, announced that the government was moving away from monetary fines, which placed financial pressure on citizens, and would instead assign community service to offenders. Speaking at a meeting of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, Oresanya had stated, “Under no condition should you dump refuse on the road. OGWAMA has the authority to arrest offenders, and those arrested will do community service. We will correct in love. You will sweep the road and collect refuse. When people see you doing that, they will understand the consequences, and you won’t return to the same habit.”
The policy shift to community service was also seen as a compassionate reform aimed at reducing the economic burden on ordinary citizens while still enforcing environmental discipline. Since that policy announcement, OGWAMA has intensified its enforcement efforts across the state, conducting multiple operations in Abeokuta, Sango‑Ota, Ifo, Ijebu‑Ode and other major towns.
Thursday’s arrest of 45 residents follows an earlier operation in April 2026, in which OGWAMA arrested and prosecuted 108 residents of Abeokuta for illegal waste dumping. In that case, the offenders were arraigned before various customary courts in the state and fined, as part of the authority’s sustained effort to curb indiscriminate refuse disposal.The April operation had focused on road medians and public spaces, which had become informal dumping sites for residents who refused to patronize approved Private Sector Participants (PSPs).
Commenting after the April prosecutions, Akintunde had expressed frustration that despite sustained sensitisation and the provision of waste collection services, some residents continued to violate the law. “It is just unfortunate that we have to go this route to stop some of our people from dumping waste indiscriminately on roadsides and in public places,” he said. “We have sensitised, appealed and even encouraged them to hand over their waste to PSP operators assigned to their areas for proper disposal, but to no avail.”
The enforcement operations are being supported by a partnership with the Nigeria Police Force. In April 2026, OGWAMA signed a collaboration agreement with the state police command to strengthen enforcement of environmental and waste management laws. Akintunde explained that the partnership was particularly focused on enforcing the laws that prohibit indiscriminate waste disposal in public spaces such as roadsides and medians. The police, he said, had committed to fully enforce the Ogun State Environmental and Waste Management Laws to ensure strict compliance.
Governor Dapo Abiodun has also backed the enforcement drive with significant investment in new equipment to strengthen the Ministry of Environment’s operations. According to the Commissioner for Environment, the governor has approved the procurement of brand‑new trucks for both OGWAMA and the private waste sector to improve waste management across the state.The governor has also demonstrated his commitment to a cleaner environment by establishing a dedicated enforcement agency that will serve as an environmental watchdog, tasked with maintaining public infrastructure, enforcing sanitation laws, and halting cases of environmental abuse.
Despite the government’s sustained efforts, indiscriminate waste disposal remains a persistent challenge in the state. Officials say many residents still prefer to dump their refuse on roadsides and medians rather than pay for the services of approved waste collectors. Some residents also complain that PSP operators are not always regular in their collection schedules. However, the government has insisted that these logistical issues do not justify environmental abuse, and that residents can channel their complaints through established mechanisms rather than resorting to illegal dumping.
As the 45 offenders swept roads and cleared drainage channels across Abeokuta on Friday, officials said the exercise served not only as punishment but also as a deterrent to other residents who might be contemplating similar acts. The sight of offenders in branded vests cleaning public spaces was intended to send a clear message about the consequences of environmental violations. OGWAMA has promised to sustain the enforcement drive until compliance improves across the state, and warned that successive waves of arrests would continue until the habit of indiscriminate waste disposal is completely eradicated.
The authority has also called on community leaders, market associations, and religious organizations to help in spreading the message about proper waste disposal and to encourage residents to patronize approved collectors. As the rainy season approaches, officials have warned that waste dumped in drainage channels could cause flooding and water contamination, making strict enforcement even more critical.
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