Lagos Waste Management Authority Promises Improved Collection Within Months

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has assured residents that current waste collection issues across the state will significantly improve within the next six to eight months. Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA's Managing Director, stated this during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Badagry.

“

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

Gbadegesin refuted claims that local governments were encroaching on LAWMA's responsibilities through independent collection efforts. He clarified that local councils are partners, acquiring compactor trucks to support LAWMA's operations. The Lagos State Government is also procuring additional trucks, which will bolster waste collection and enhance service delivery throughout the state.

“

Lagos State Government has begun the process of building new disposal facilities.

He attributed the delays in waste collection to Lagos' rapidly growing population and the resulting increase in waste generation. To address this, the state is expanding its waste management infrastructure. New disposal facilities are being built, with work underway at Olusosun. Additionally, transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities are under construction. Badagry will host a major material recovery facility focused on recycling and resource extraction, which Gbadegesin emphasized is not a dumpsite but a facility for safe waste treatment and revenue generation.

“

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.

Recent operational disruptions, particularly flooding around the Olusosun dumpsite, have been blamed on heavy rainfall making access roads difficult for refuse trucks. Gbadegesin noted that this issue should be resolved by Tuesday with the reopening of another section for waste disposal. He also mentioned that only a portion of Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators faced challenges, with many redirecting to satellite sites. Gbadegesin urged residents to store refuse properly and pay PSP operators promptly, emphasizing that waste management is a collective effort. Residents are encouraged to report service lapses through LAWMA's customer service channels.

“

Waste management is a collective exercise. We must all be involved.