Residents of the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State may face a fine of ₦50,000 or up to six months’ imprisonment if they fail to place waste bins or drums in front of their homes, under a proposed amendment to the council’s environmental bye-laws.
The proposal was presented by the legislative arm of the council’s Sixth Assembly during the second day of the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA Legislative Week.
The event, themed Public Hearing on Bye-law Amendment, brought together residents, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market representatives and other stakeholders to review the proposed legislation and make recommendations before its passage.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the Majority Leader of the House, Rahman Ademola, said the amendment was necessitated by gaps identified in the existing bye-laws.
“We discovered that the current bye-law requires amendment and additional provisions. This is why we called you here today so that we could dialogue. When these proposals finally become law, no one will say they were unaware,” he said.
Ademola explained that the proposed legislation would criminalise open defecation, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the failure of households to provide waste containers.
According to him, anyone found defecating in open spaces, drainage channels or other public places would be committing an offence. He added that dumping refuse, construction materials, debris or other waste in unauthorised locations would also attract sanctions.
He further stated that every household would be required to keep a waste bin or drum in front of the premises.
Ademola said that if the bill is passed and signed into law, copies would be distributed to police stations, markets and community associations to ensure residents are adequately informed.
“If we all agree to this bill today, by the 15th of this month, the chairman will sign it, and it will become law. Copies of the law will be placed in police stations, markets and with various associations.
“There will be no excuse of ignorance because Agboyi-Ketu has an environmental task force that will enforce the law.
“If a house is found without a waste drum or waste bin, or a resident is caught dumping refuse where it is prohibited, such a person will be liable to a fine of ₦50,000 or six months’ imprisonment,” he said.
Speaking at the public hearing, the Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Adetola Adunni-Abubakar, said governance should extend beyond the provision of infrastructure to improving the welfare and livelihoods of residents.
She noted that while the government would continue to provide roads, schools, healthcare facilities and waste management infrastructure, equal attention should be given to initiatives that strengthen local economies and improve living standards.
Adunni-Abubakar also stressed the importance of collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of the council, describing councillors as the closest representatives of the people.
“You are the most direct representatives of the people, the very closest to them in the third tier of governance. Your partnership with the executive arm of our local government is therefore indispensable.
“We need the ones we bring to your chambers to be rapidly ratified. Let these stakeholders produce actionable ideas. Let us strengthen communication between the communities and the council and make laws that are executable while executing projects that our people truly need and desire,” she said.
