The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has disclosed that no fewer than 10,634 environmental offenders were arrested across the state within the past year as part of efforts to enforce sanitation laws and restore environmental order.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Kunle Adeshina, the arrests were carried out during intensified enforcement operations across the state.
Wahab explained that 5,715 persons were apprehended for illegal highway crossing, while 3,886 others were arrested for offences such as street trading, cart pushing, and environmental pollution.
He added that 102 individuals were arrested for open defecation, while 931 others were apprehended for waste management-related offences.
The commissioner stated that the enforcement campaign formed part of the state government’s broader drive to build a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient environment under the THEMES Plus Agenda of the administration.
According to him, the ministry strengthened enforcement activities through its agencies by prosecuting environmental offenders, removing illegal traders and squatters, and issuing abatement notices in different parts of the state.
“The ministry intensified enforcement operations through its agencies, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of offenders involved in environmental violations, indiscriminate trading, highway crossing, and improper waste disposal,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Wahab also highlighted progress recorded in waste management and environmental sustainability initiatives across the state.
He disclosed that the government signed 12 new partnerships aimed at boosting environmental sustainability and advancing waste-to-wealth programmes.
The commissioner further revealed that the state inaugurated the Ikosi Waste-to-Energy Biodigester Plant located within the Ketu Fruit Market to convert organic waste into electricity, cooking gas, and fertiliser.
According to him, the facility processes about 0.5 tonnes of organic waste daily and generates approximately 30 kilowatt-hours of electricity for lighting and cold storage operations.
He added that the project was expected to reduce carbon emissions significantly.
Wahab stated that the state government also sustained its enforcement against the use of Styrofoam and single-use plastics, noting that over 137,530 kilograms of PET plastics had been removed from the environment through recycling efforts.
On climate action, the commissioner said Lagos retained its position as Nigeria’s leading state in climate governance for the second consecutive year.
He noted that the state successfully hosted the 2025 Lagos International Climate Change Summit, which focused on financing coastal resilience and blue economy opportunities in Africa.
The commissioner also disclosed that more than 100 air quality monitoring sensors had been installed across Lagos, while cleaner fish-processing technology had been introduced in Makoko to reduce smoke emissions and improve public health.
Speaking on flood control measures, Wahab said the ministry maintained and cleaned 18 primary drainage channels spanning 76 kilometres, alongside secondary drainage systems covering 178 kilometres across the state.
He added that emergency flood control interventions were also carried out in flood-prone communities covering about 210 kilometres.
According to him, the achievements recorded in sanitation, climate governance, drainage infrastructure, and waste management reflected the commitment of the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to improving the living conditions of residents across the state.