Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, recently highlighted that the escalating waste crisis in the state stems from underestimated refuse volumes, a lack of operational collection vehicles, and difficulties faced by private sector partners. During an interview on Nigerian Info 99.3fm, Hamzat clarified that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is struggling with a workload far exceeding initial projections.
Official records previously estimated daily waste generation at 13,000 tonnes, but recent findings indicate the actual amount is closer to 17,000 tonnes. Hamzat explained that this discrepancy makes strategic planning difficult, especially since residents living on the streets contribute to waste generation in ways that are hard to quantify and manage.
The state currently relies on approximately 420 Private Sector Participants (PSPs) for waste collection. Under existing contracts, each operator is required to maintain at least two trucks. However, rising operational costs, such as the increased price of diesel, have left many operators unable to maintain their fleets. While these businesses requested tariff increases, the state government opted to subsidize costs rather than burden residents.
Furthermore, many existing trucks have become non-functional. To address this, the government placed orders for new vehicles, including 114 units for local government areas and an additional 100 trucks. Delivery delays have pushed the arrival of these vehicles from July to September. Hamzat emphasized that while the government takes responsibility for these logistical setbacks, the crisis is not solely the result of failures by LAWMA.
