Lagos Arrests Mother Over Alleged Order to Child to Dump Waste in Drain

The Lagos State Government has arrested a Shomolu resident for allegedly telling her child to dispose of refuse in a covered drainage channel.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the arrest on his official X account on Monday. He identified the suspect as Mrs McCarthy of No. 56, Adaranijo Street, Pedro, Shomolu.

According to Wahab, enforcement officers acted after residents reported the incident. An investigation led to her arrest for breaching the state’s environmental laws.

The commissioner said the case highlights the role parents and guardians play in shaping children’s habits. He stressed that teaching children to block drains with waste worsens flooding and damages public infrastructure.

“We expect every resident to act responsibly and to educate their children on protecting public assets, especially drainage systems,” Wahab said. “Encouraging behaviour that leads to blocked drains and environmental harm will not be tolerated.”

He added that keeping Lagos clean is a collective duty. “A clean, safe, and flood-resilient environment is a shared responsibility. Residents must dispose of waste properly and support efforts to keep the state clean,” he stated.

Wahab also disclosed that enforcement has been ramped up along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Over the last three weeks, teams have been clearing shanties, illegal structures, and other nuisances along the corridor.

“This exercise will be followed by sustained surveillance and continuous monitoring to ensure environmental order is restored and maintained,” he said.

The commissioner warned against turning public spaces into illegal markets or using them for unauthorised private purposes.

“Anyone found encroaching on public spaces or using them for unlawful purposes will be arrested and prosecuted in line with the extant laws of Lagos State,” Wahab warned.