Lagos Establishes Dedicated Unit to Tackle Waste Management

The Lagos State Government has established a Special Task Force to oversee the immediate removal of refuse from transport parks, bus stops, and garages, while also issuing a warning against indiscriminate waste disposal and the proliferation of shanties within motor parks.

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This move is aimed at restoring cleanliness and environmental order in Africa's most populous city, following a directive by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to scale up waste evacuation operations across the state for 24 hours.

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Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, emphasized the need for the initiative due to the persistent abuse of public spaces by some residents and operators, stating that the city is being challenged by indiscriminate refuse disposal and environmental abuse.

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Osiyemi noted that the government cannot ignore the practice of dumping waste on roads, medians, and public spaces, describing it as totally unacceptable, and stressed the importance of collaboration with transport unions in addressing the issue.

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The Commissioner warned that individuals engaging in illegal waste disposal would face consequences, and directed union leaders to ensure that garages, bus stops, and parks are properly maintained and supported by designated cleaners and monitoring representatives.

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Osiyemi also emphasized the need for transport unions to take ownership of cleanliness in their operational areas, saying that the state's roads are being littered daily and that discipline must be enforced within the unions' own garages before it can be enforced outside.

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Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, described transport operators as key stakeholders in maintaining public order and security, urging them to support environmental enforcement efforts and report any incidents they witness.

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The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, stated that the state generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily and warned that indiscriminate dumping must stop, emphasizing the need for waste to be collected from homes and taken to designated points.

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Dr. Gbadegesin also cautioned against the return of street trading around bus stops and newly rehabilitated roads, describing it as a threat to urban renewal investments, and urged transport unions to support the government's efforts to keep the state clean.

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Former Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, explained that the newly inaugurated task force would work with transport unions to enforce sanitation standards, remove illegal structures, and improve the cleanliness and safety of transport facilities.

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Leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) responded by pledging cooperation with the government and calling for a structured engagement platform to enhance monitoring and response across transport corridors.

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The state government reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the waste challenge, noting that Lagos generates one of the highest volumes of refuse in Africa but has the capacity to manage it effectively, and assured residents that the current situation is temporary.