Ogun threatens to arrest residents dumping refuse on roads 

Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya

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The Ogun State Government on Friday warned that residents caught dumping refuse on roads will henceforth be arrested, corrected with compassion, and assigned community service as punishment.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, disclosed this during a briefing with members of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council at their fourth quarterly meeting, held on Thursday at the Obas’ Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, according to a statement made available to journalists by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade.

Oresanya emphasised that the law forbids dumping refuse on roadways, noting that streets are not designated dump sites.

He explained that residents are expected to place their refuse in front of their homes for Private Sector Participants to collect directly at their doorsteps.

He added that the state government is refining its enforcement strategy by moving away from monetary fines to reduce financial pressure on citizens.

Instead, offenders will be required to undertake community service.

“Governor Abiodun remains deeply concerned about environmental management in the state, and he is investing significantly in new equipment to strengthen the Ministry of Environment’s operations.

“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,” he said.

Oresanya also disclosed that Abiodun has approved the procurement of brand-new trucks for OGWAMA and the private waste sector to improve waste management across the state.

Addressing noise pollution, the commissioner said the ministry had shut several religious centres and other facilities found violating noise regulations. He stressed that sanitation should be a daily responsibility rather than a once-a-month activity, noting that Section 6 of the Constitution empowers Local Government Health Officers to inspect homes, ensure bins are not overflowing, and prosecute erring households.

Oresanya further revealed that safety consultants from the ministry are inspecting gas plants across the state to ensure compliance with safety standards, with substandard facilities set to be shut down soon.

Commending the ministry’s recent intervention in Ogijo, Chief Iyabo Apampa urged the commissioner to also address air pollution and the indiscriminate parking of trailers around Ibese and Papalanto, where cement factories operate.

Chairman of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, applauded the state government’s efforts in waste management and agricultural development.

He also described the 2026 Budget of Sustainable Legacy, recently presented by Abiodun, as a well-structured roadmap for a prosperous new year.

Improper waste disposal has remained a persistent environmental challenge in Ogun State, particularly in urban centres such as Abeokuta, Ifo, Sagamu, and the border communities adjoining Lagos.

Despite several public sensitisation campaigns and the introduction of Private Sector Participants to manage domestic waste collection, many residents continue to dump refuse on road medians, drainages, and undeveloped spaces—often leading to flooding, traffic obstruction, and public health risks.

In the last two years, the OGWAMA has repeatedly warned residents against indiscriminate dumping, sealing shops and penalising offenders in areas like Ogijo, Ijebu-Ode, Ota, and Mowe.

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