The Lagos State Government has warned residents who enjoy waste collection services but fail to pay Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators that they could face criminal sanctions.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, issued the warning on Friday during a radio programme, as the state government announced plans to further reform its waste management system and tackle what it described as “free-riding.”
Wahab said some residents deliberately refuse to pay for waste collection despite benefiting from the services provided by PSP operators.
“Going forward, failure to pay for waste management services rendered will constitute a criminal offence,” the commissioner warned.
However, Wahab also cautioned PSP operators against collecting fees from residents without providing the required services.
He said operators would no longer be allowed to blame poor service delivery on challenges at dumpsites or other operational difficulties.
“No PSP operator should use the challenges at the dumpsites or other operational difficulties as an excuse for failing to provide the required services to residents,” Wahab said.
According to the commissioner, the state is reviewing the financial sustainability of PSP operations while demanding greater accountability, transparency and improved service delivery from waste managers.
The government is also intensifying enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal across the state.
Wahab said 931 people were apprehended for waste management-related offences in May, while 239 facilities were sealed for failing to comply with environmental regulations.
The latest warning comes ahead of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, August 29, with the state government urging both residents and waste managers to comply with waste management regulations.
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