Ogun Government Introduces Community Service for Waste Offenders

The Ogun State Government has announced a new policy mandating community service for residents caught illegally dumping waste, in a bid to improve environmental sanitation across the state.

Under the policy, violators of waste management laws will be required to perform community service duties, such as sweeping streets and collecting refuse, instead of paying monetary fines.

The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the move is aimed at “correcting offenders in love” while deterring others from similar offenses.

“Streets are not dumping sites. Residents are expected to place their refuse at designated points for collection by approved waste collectors,” Oresanya said.

The government explained that the shift from fines to community service is designed to ease financial pressure on residents while maintaining effective enforcement of environmental regulations.

Offenders will carry out visible community service to discourage repeat offenses and promote public awareness.

The policy is part of a broader initiative to strengthen waste management in Ogun State. The government has also procured new waste collection trucks and recently passed legislation regulating the activities of scavengers and waste dealers.

Residents are urged to cooperate by properly disposing of their refuse to ensure a cleaner environment. The success of the policy, officials noted, will depend on efficient collection by approved private sector waste management operators and active participation from the community.