Residents of the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, in Lagos State may face a fine of N50,000 or a jail term of up to six months if they fail to place waste bins or drums in front of their homes, should a proposed environmental bye-law be enacted.
The provision is contained in an amendment bill presented by the legislative arm of the council’s Sixth Assembly during the second day of the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA Legislative Week.
The public hearing, themed “Public Hearing on Bye-law Amendment,” brought together community members, traditional rulers, religious leaders, market representatives and other stakeholders to review the proposed legislation and make contributions before its eventual passage.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, the Majority Leader of the House, Rahman Ademola, explained that the proposed amendment became necessary after the Assembly identified gaps in the council’s existing bye-laws.
According to him, the review is intended to strengthen the legal framework guiding environmental sanitation and other aspects of community development.
“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 disclosed that the proposed legislation seeks to criminalise open defecation, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and the failure of households to provide designated waste containers.
He said anyone found defecating in open spaces, drainage channels or other public places would be committing an offence under the proposed law.
He added that
