A 53-year-old woman, Nelly Monday, has been sentenced to one month in prison for dumping refuse into a drainage channel in Lagos State.
Nelly was arrested after she was allegedly caught disposing of waste in a drain during rainfall in Meiran on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) said the woman was later taken before a Magistrate Court sitting at Bolade, Oshodi, where she pleaded guilty to the environmental offence.
Following her plea, the court found Monday guilty and sentenced her to one month in prison.
The conviction is part of renewed efforts by environmental authorities in Lagos to discourage practices that block drainage channels and worsen flooding during heavy rainfall.
LAWMA warned that dumping refuse in drains is prohibited and can lead to legal sanctions.
The authority said its enforcement teams would continue to identify residents who violate environmental regulations and work with relevant agencies to prosecute offenders.
“Residents must understand that drainage channels are not waste disposal points,” LAWMA said, stressing the need for proper waste management across the state.
It urged Lagos residents to use approved waste disposal channels and avoid throwing refuse into drains, roadsides and other unauthorised areas.
The authority also warned that indiscriminate dumping can obstruct the flow of stormwater and increase the risk of flooding in communities.
LAWMA said enforcement against environmental violations would continue as the state intensifies measures to maintain cleaner communities and protect drainage infrastructure.