The Lagos Waste Management Authority, led by Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has promised residents a notable improvement in refuse collection services within the next six to eight months. Speaking during a recent environmental sanitation exercise in Badagry, Gbadegesin clarified that local government councils are working alongside the agency rather than replacing it. To boost capacity, local governments are acquiring two compactor trucks each, and the state government is purchasing additional vehicles.
Gbadegesin cited Lagos’s rapid population growth and the resulting surge in daily waste volume as the primary causes of current service delays. To mitigate this, the state is expanding infrastructure, including the construction of new disposal sites, transfer loading stations, and material recovery facilities, such as the upcoming one in Badagry meant for recycling and revenue generation. Recent issues at the Olusosun dumpsite, caused by heavy rains and flooding, hampered access, though alternative routes and sites in Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry have helped maintain partial operations.
While roughly 30 to 40 percent of private operators faced disruptions, the agency expects service levels to rebound shortly. Gbadegesin encouraged residents to manage their waste responsibly, pay private operators on time, avoid illegal dumping on roadsides, and report any service issues to the agency for quick resolution.
