Littering may seem like a minor issue, but in Nigeria, it carries unexpectedly harsh penalties.
To understand the severity of this offence and the public’s perspective, we interviewed students and working professionals across the country.
I was fined ₦5,000 for throwing the bottle out of my car
We spoke to Eniola, a 400 level accounting student who was so angry about the littering problem on campus. “It’s always disappointing to see our beautiful university grounds destroyed by diffrent dirts and it is not like there are no dust bins around.”
Eniola did not know that littering was an offense but she was happy to hear it, she even believes that stricter enforcement and harsher fines could stop students from littering.
Mr Adeniyi, a marketer in Lagos State, shared his experience with littering fines also. He explained that he was driving home from work on a Friday and he took a bottle of water and just flinged it out of his car. “I was fined ₦5,000 for throwing the bottle out of my car window, after I begged them for several hours.” He explained that since then he has never tried it again.
Public Awareness and Education
Many of the people we spoke with agreed that public awareness and education are key to tackling the littering issue.
Dr Jolaoluwa, a lecturer of Environmental Law in Oyo State, suggested, “Incorporating environmental education into school curricula could instill a sense of responsibility in our youth from an early age.”
The Legal Consequences
Littering in Nigeria carries serious legal consequences at both the federal and state levels. The National Environment Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) Act imposes fines up to N1 million and imprisonment for five years for illegally discharging hazardous substances. Companies face additional daily fines of N50,000 for continuous violations. The Criminal Code also has provisions addressing public health hazards and environmental protection related to littering.
States have their own penalties as well. In Abuja, litterers risk paying N2,000 fines or six months in jail. Lagos cracks down on littering from vehicles with N5,000 fines from the Federal Road Safety Corps. With substantial fines and potential jail time, the legal implications of littering demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining a clean environment through strict enforcement measures.
Littering isn’t just a small thing. It causes big problems for our environment. If we understand how serious this is and take action to stop it, we can make our communities cleaner and healthier for everyone, now and in the future.
