The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has assured residents that ongoing Lagos waste collection challenges across the state will significantly improve within the next six to eight months as government expands waste management infrastructure and deploys additional collection equipment. The assurance was given by LAWMA Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise held in Badagry on Saturday.
Gbadegesin dismissed reports suggesting that local government councils were taking over LAWMA’s responsibilities through separate waste collection initiatives. According to him, the councils remain strategic partners supporting the authority’s operations rather than replacing it.
He explained that each local government is acquiring two compactor trucks, while the Lagos State Government is also purchasing additional waste collection vehicles to strengthen operations across the state. The LAWMA boss noted that the new equipment would improve service delivery and enhance Lagos waste collection efficiency.
Gbadegesin attributed the recent collection delays to Lagos’ rapidly growing population and the corresponding increase in daily waste generation.
To address the challenge, he said the state government has commenced the development of additional waste management infrastructure. According to him, work is progressing at the Olusosun facility, while several transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities are also under construction.
He disclosed that Badagry will host a major material recovery facility designed for recycling and resource recovery rather than waste dumping. The proposed facility, he explained, will enable authorities to safely process refuse, recover recyclable materials and generate revenue from valuable waste components.
The LAWMA Managing Director revealed that heavy rainfall recently affected operations around the Olusosun dumpsite after flooding made access roads difficult for refuse trucks. He, however, expressed optimism that the situation would improve quickly, noting that another access route would be reopened to trucks.
Gbadegesin added that only about 30 to 40 percent of Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators experienced operational challenges, while many others continued disposing waste at satellite facilities located in Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry. He expressed confidence that residents would begin noticing improvements in waste evacuation before the end of the week.
Gbadegesin appealed to residents to properly store household waste and ensure prompt payment to PSP operators to sustain efficient waste collection services. He stressed that waste management requires collective responsibility and urged residents to avoid dumping refuse along roadsides during temporary service delays. He also encouraged residents to report waste collection lapses through LAWMA’s official customer service channels for swift intervention.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State APC deputy governorship candidate, Princess Damilola James, urged residents to maintain regular environmental sanitation, particularly during the rainy season. Speaking during a community sanitation exercise in Vetho Ajara, Badagry, she said keeping drains free of debris would help prevent flooding and improve public health.
James encouraged residents to embrace environmental cleanliness beyond officially designated sanitation days, describing it as a shared responsibility that strengthens community unity and development. She also commended Lagos environmental authorities for enforcing sanitation regulations across the state and expressed confidence that the government’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner Lagos would continue in the coming years.
