By Bisi Bamishe
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reassured residents of the State that comprehensive measures are being implemented to improve waste evacuation across Lagos, as government intensifies efforts to strengthen operational efficiency, expand waste management infrastructure, and enhance environmental sanitation.
Speaking on ongoing interventions by the Authority, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin acknowledged the operational challenges affecting waste evacuation in some parts of the State and assured residents that the government was actively implementing immediate, medium-term, and long-term solutions to improve service delivery.
According to him, recent operational pressures were partly linked to challenges associated with access to disposal facilities, particularly during the peak of the rainy season.
Dr. Gbadegesin disclosed that LAWMA’s waste-to-wealth partner, ZoomLion Nigeria Limited, had commenced preliminary works to stabilise and reopen Road E at the Olusosun facility, a critical intervention expected to improve access, reduce turnaround time, and enhance operational efficiency at the site.
He further stated that the Authority had resuscitated and optimised the use of Transfer Loading Stations (TLSs) across the State as a stop-gap measure to facilitate quicker evacuation of waste from communities while ongoing infrastructure improvements continued.
The LAWMA boss said that government was also taking steps to support the acquisition of additional waste collection vehicles by PSP operators, adding that the expected deployment of 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) compactor trucks would significantly boost waste evacuation capacity across Lagos, while 10 new compactor trucks donated by the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Board had already been deployed to strengthen waste collection operations.
According to him, government had intensified enforcement against indiscriminate waste disposal and other environmental infractions, while recently constituting a coordinated Waste Police initiative involving key stakeholders, including transport unions and community groups, to strengthen environmental compliance and discourage illegal dumping.
He added that the government was also exploring inter-state collaboration to complement existing waste disposal infrastructure, improve operational flexibility, and support more efficient waste evacuation across Lagos State.
Dr. Gbadegesin noted that LAWMA’s disposal facilities received over 418,500 tonnes of waste in May 2026, despite operational challenges experienced during the period, adding that 3,000 blackspots were being cleared daily through ongoing sanitation interventions, while government continued to invest in infrastructure, equipment, and operational improvements aimed at strengthening service delivery across the State.
The LAWMA boss also highlighted the ongoing construction of new Transfer Loading Stations at Olusosun and Solous III, noting that the facilities would collectively divert up to 4,000 tonnes of waste daily to recycling and treatment facilities upon completion, significantly reducing pressure on disposal sites, advancing the State’s circular economy objectives, and complementing government’s broader commitment to modernising waste management through increased investment in recycling, material recovery, waste diversion, and other sustainable waste-to-resource initiatives.
Dr. Gbadegesin urged residents to continue to patronise approved PSP operators, avoid indiscriminate waste disposal, and support ongoing government efforts to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment.
He reassured residents that the current operational challenges were being actively addressed and that service levels would improve progressively as the various interventions took effect.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to continuously improving waste management services and assured residents that all relevant stakeholders were working diligently to restore optimal service levels across affected communities.
