OGWAMA boss warns residents against indiscriminate waste dumping, fixes N25,000 fine for offenders

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun State Waste Management Agency (OGWAMA), Mr Abayomi Hunye, has warned residents of Abeokuta to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse along roadsides, medians and other unauthorised locations, stressing that offenders risk a fine of ₦25,000 or prosecution.

Hunye issued the warning during a media parley with journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iwe Irohin House, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, where he outlined the agency’s achievements and roadmap for 2026.

He appealed to residents to cooperate with the agency to keep Ogun State clean and safe, noting that proper waste disposal was critical to preventing environmental degradation and disease outbreaks.

According to him, the Ogun State environmental law establishing OGWAMA prescribes a ₦25,000 fine for anyone caught dumping refuse illegally. He added that offenders who are unable to pay the fine would be prosecuted and, upon conviction, could face a jail term of between two and three months.

The OGWAMA boss disclosed that the agency’s revenue base had grown significantly from about ₦3 billion when he assumed office to ₦9 billion, attributing the increase to improved operational efficiency and compliance.

He also revealed that over 200 additional staff had been employed, while three utility buses were procured to strengthen the agency’s operations and enhance service delivery.

Hunye further announced plans to introduce a community-based waste management model, under which waste managers would work through Community Development Associations (CDAs) to evacuate refuse directly from neighbourhoods at a token fee, in a bid to curb illegal dumping.

Reacting to recent allegations of extortion, arbitrary charges and favouritism levelled against him by a group claiming to be members of the Association of Waste Managers, Vendors and Recyclers of Nigeria, Hunye dismissed the claims as false, baseless and mischievous.

He said the allegations were aimed at tarnishing his personal integrity and that of the agency, warning that he would take legal action to protect his reputation if necessary.

“The allegations of extortion against my person are completely unfounded. At no point have I demanded or collected money from any operator, either directly or indirectly,” he said.

“Extortion involves the illegal collection of money for personal gain. All payments by operators go directly into designated state government accounts. OGWAMA does not collect cash, and I have no personal interest in these payments beyond ensuring that due process and the law are strictly followed.”

He added that the agency operates strictly within its statutory powers, including the review and adjustment of fees when necessary, stressing that transparency and accountability remain his top priorities.

Speaking separately, the chairman of the association said the individuals who staged the protest had been suspended indefinitely for anti-association activities since 2023, insisting that they were no longer executives of the association as claimed during their protest.