Lagos Arrests Over 10,000 For Highway Crossing, Open Defecation, Street Trading
The Lagos State Government has arrested a total of 10,634 residents for various environmental and traffic-related offences across the state, as part of efforts to enforce sanitation laws and maintain order in the megacity.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing commemorating the seventh anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in the environment sector at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa.
According to Wahab, 5,715 persons were arrested for crossing highways illegally, while 3,886 others were apprehended for offences including street trading, environmental pollution and cart-pushing. Another 102 individuals were arrested for open defecation, while 931 offenders were prosecuted for waste management violations.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to building a cleaner, healthier and flood-resilient Lagos through improved environmental policies, waste management reforms and strategic partnerships.
He noted that the reintroduction of the monthly statewide environmental sanitation exercise had significantly boosted public participation in sanitation activities across communities in the state.
“The exercise recorded massive participation from residents, local governments, private organisations and state officials, demonstrating renewed public commitment to environmental cleanliness,” Wahab said.
He added that enforcement activities had been intensified through relevant government agencies, resulting in the removal of illegal traders and squatters, as well as the issuance of environmental abatement notices in several parts of the state.
On waste management initiatives, Wahab revealed that the state commissioned the Ikosi Waste-to-Energy Biodigester Plant within the Ketu Fruit Market. The facility, he said, converts organic waste into electricity, cooking gas and agricultural fertiliser.
According to him, the plant processes 0.5 tonnes of organic waste daily and generates 30kWH of electricity for lighting and cold storage, while also reducing carbon emissions.
The commissioner further disclosed that five underperforming Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators had their licences withdrawn following a performance review exercise.
He also said the government strengthened healthcare waste management by deploying 35 new PSP operators to health facilities across the state’s three senatorial districts, adding that between 80,000kg and 105,000kg of medical waste are treated monthly.
Wahab stated that the state sustained its ban on Styrofoam and single-use plastics, with over 137,000kg of PET plastics removed from the environment through recycling and recovery initiatives.
Speaking on climate and environmental sustainability, he said Lagos retained its position as Nigeria’s top-performing state in climate governance for the second consecutive year, while the government planted 16,966 trees across the five divisions of the state.
He added that flood control remained a key priority of the administration, with extensive dredging and drainage maintenance projects carried out across Lagos.
According to him, 18 primary drainage channels covering 76 kilometres and secondary channels spanning 178 kilometres were maintained and cleared, while illegal structures obstructing drainage systems were removed.
Wahab further stated that the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang responded to flood-prone areas covering about 210 kilometres across the state to reduce flooding and improve stormwater management.
In the water sector, the commissioner announced the commissioning of the rehabilitated one-million-gallons-per-day Akilo Mini Waterworks, while work continues on the Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant and expansion of potable water infrastructure across the state.
