LAWMA assures Lagos residents of improved waste collection

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The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has assured residents that current waste collection challenges across the state will ease within six to eight months.

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The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, gave the assurance during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Badagry on Saturday.

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Gbadegesin dismissed claims that local governments were taking over LAWMA’s waste management responsibilities through independent collection initiatives.

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“That is not true. The local governments are partners. They are assisting the Lagos Waste Management Authority in various ways,” he said.

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He said councils were acquiring two compactor trucks each, while the Lagos State Government was procuring additional trucks.

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According to him, the additional equipment will strengthen waste collection and improve service delivery across the state.

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Gbadegesin attributed collection delays to Lagos’ growing population and increasing waste generation.

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He said the state was expanding waste management infrastructure to address the challenge.

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“Lagos State Government has begun the process of building new disposal facilities,” he said.

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He disclosed that work was ongoing at Olusosun, while transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities were under construction.

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He said Badagry would also host a major material recovery facility for recycling and resource recovery.

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“It is not a dump site. It is a material recovery facility that will allow us to treat waste safely and extract valuable components for revenue generation,” he said.

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Gbadegesin blamed recent operational disruptions on flooding around the Olusosun dumpsite.

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He said heavy rainfall had made the access road difficult for refuse trucks.

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“That will become a thing of the past by Tuesday when we reopen another section for trucks to dump waste,” he said.

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Gbadegesin said only 30 to 40 per cent of Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators were affected.

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“Many of them are going to satellite sites in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry. Maybe about 30 to 40 per cent have challenges,” he said.

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He expressed confidence that residents would notice improvements before the end of the week.

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Gbadegesin urged residents to store refuse properly and pay PSP operators promptly to support efficient waste management.

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“Waste management is a collective exercise. We must all be involved,” he said.

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He advised residents against dumping refuse on roadsides during collection delays.

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Gbadegesin urged residents to report service lapses through LAWMA’s customer service channels for prompt intervention.

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In a related development, the Lagos State APC deputy governorship candidate, Princess Damilola James, urged residents to embrace regular environmental sanitation.

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James made the call during a community sanitation exercise in Vetho Ajara, Badagry, on Saturday.

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She said regular sanitation was vital during the rainy season to prevent blocked drains and reduce flooding.

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James urged residents to support the Lagos State Government’s environmental sanitation enforcement efforts.

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“It’s important for us to clean our environment, especially at this season where there is rain, to ensure that all the debris is packed even before the rain begins,” she said.

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She encouraged Badagry residents to sustain environmental cleanliness beyond designated sanitation days.

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“It’s very important that we keep our environment clean. Cleanliness is next to godliness,” she said.

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James said community sanitation exercises strengthened relationships and encouraged shared responsibility for development.

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“It builds community bond, and it helps to have that community unity when we clean our environment and take responsibility for it together,” she said.

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She commended Lagos environmental authorities for enforcing sanitation regulations across the state.

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“They’re doing a fantastic job. We really appreciate them,” she said.

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James expressed confidence that Lagos would sustain its environmental cleanliness efforts.

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“Come 2027, I believe Dr Obafemi Hamzat will continue in this light to ensure that we keep Lagos State clean,” she said.

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