The Lagos Waste Management Authority has warned the general public to be wary of fraudsters extorting money from residents under the guise of being debt recovery agents for the agency.

A statement signed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, LAWMA, Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, stated that the agency had not given any third party the responsibility of collecting waste bills from residents and businesses in the state.

Odumboni said, “The residents should disregard any person, group of persons or firm parading themselves as agents of LAWMA or Lagos State Government, assigned to collect or recover waste bills from residents.

“We say categorically that such persons or firms should be reported to the nearest police station, as LAWMA has not assigned the responsibility to any external individuals or bodies.

“We are also sounding a note of warning to those criminals masquerading as agents of the state to desist from their fraudulent acts or face the full wrath of the law. We hereby restate for emphasis that no other agency or organisation is mandated to collect waste bills in the state except LAWMA officers duly assigned to carry out the task.”

Odumboni stated that the authority would not rest on its oars in ensuring every part of the metropolis was rid of waste.

He also asked for continuous support through residents’ patronage of assigned PSP operators and prompt payment of waste bills.