Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and other relevant agencies to intensify waste evacuation efforts across the state as growing heaps of refuse continue to litter major roads and communities.
The governor also ordered agencies and service providers to work round the clock to clear the backlog of waste that has accumulated on street corners, road medians and suburban areas across the state.
The directive comes amid increasing concerns over the state of waste management in Lagos, where piles of domestic and industrial refuse have become a common sight along highways and major roads stretching from the mainland to the island.
In a statement issued on Thursday by Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the state government acknowledged residents’ concerns over the worsening situation.
According to the statement, the government “acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the recent accumulation of refuse in some parts of the state”.
Akosile said the issue was receiving urgent attention from Governor Sanwo-Olu and the state government, stressing that residents “deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city”.
“We are not oblivious to the inconveniences and concerns occasioned by the situation,” the statement reads.
“Lagosians deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city, and this administration remains fully committed to delivering on that obligation.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has consequently directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state, with relevant agencies and service providers working round the clock to clear backlogs and restore normalcy as quickly as possible.
“Additional resources have been deployed to support ongoing efforts, while strategic interventions are being implemented to strengthen operational efficiency and improve waste collection and disposal across affected areas.
“The Governor has directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and all other departments in that sector to double down on their efforts.”
Akosile described the waste evacuation challenge as temporary, noting that “substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations”.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and patient, assuring them that the state government was “pursuing a comprehensive response” to address the situation.
Concerns over waste management in Lagos have persisted since January, when major roads in several communities were reported to be overflowing with refuse following the Yuletide period.
Reports indicated that many Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators engaged by the Lagos Waste Management Authority had stopped carrying out regular waste collection services.
Since then, the situation has deteriorated further, with many residents resorting to dumping refuse on road medians while accusing PSP operators of neglecting their responsibilities.
In April, the Lagos State Government reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, bringing back the state-wide clean-up initiative after a 10-year suspension. The exercise was originally halted in November 2016 following a court ruling.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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