Lagos residents risk prosecution for refusing to pay waste fees

Lagos State is poised to prosecute residents who refuse to pay for waste management services, according to a warning issued by the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab. This measure aims to enforce the 'polluter-pays-principle,' a standard policy globally, which some Lagos residents have been circumventing.

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All over the world, the standard policy for waste management is the ‘polluter-pays-principle’. But here in Lagos, some of our people want to free-ride the system and have therefore chosen not to pay for the services rendered by PSP operators.

Wahab stated that the government is actively reviewing and rejigging the waste management system. "Going forward, failure to pay for waste management services rendered will constitute a criminal offence," he announced during a radio program discussing the environmental sanitation exercise. He noted that many residents "want to free-ride the system and have therefore chosen not to pay for the services rendered by PSP operators," which adversely affects the system.

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All of these have adverse effects on the waste management system. However, we are now rejigging the system, and going forward, failure to pay for waste management services rendered will constitute a criminal offence.

The state government is also confronting identified shortcomings in waste collection, transportation, and disposal since the resumption of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Wahab confirmed that regulations for Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators are being strengthened. He met with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria to discuss the financial sustainability of PSP operations, including cost recovery and potential adjustments to ensure efficient service delivery.

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Since we started the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, we, as a government, have identified some shortcomings on our part, and we are confronting them head-on.

Wahab stressed that improved financial arrangements must be matched by transparency, accountability, and quality service. He urged PSP operators not to use operational difficulties as excuses for failing to serve residents. The government is also working to improve disposal facilities, with interventions at the Solous dumpsite in Igando to ease pressure and reduce truck turnaround times.

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No PSP operator should use the challenges at the dumpsites or other operational difficulties as an excuse for failing to provide the required services to residents.