The Lagos State Government has announced a zero-tolerance policy on indiscriminate waste dumping across the state and unveiled plans to establish a special “Waste Police” to strengthen environmental sanitation and enforcement efforts.
The move follows Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s directive for the emergency evacuation of waste from roads and public spaces across Lagos.
As part of the initiative, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority have partnered with the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria to ensure that roads, motor parks, and garages remain clean at all times.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Transportation, Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said transport unions must take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness within their parks and operational areas.
He urged union leaders to discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal practices, adding that the ministry would begin enforcement measures to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
Osiyemi emphasized that roads should not be used as refuse dumps and revealed that the proposed Waste Police would be made up of members of transport unions across all local government areas in the state.
According to him, the unit will be tasked with monitoring motor parks and surrounding areas to prevent illegal waste disposal and promote environmental cleanliness.
Also speaking at the meeting, Lagos State Deputy Chief of Staff, Sam Egube, noted that transport operators in many parts of the world play active roles in supporting government efforts to protect and maintain transport infrastructure.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to address waste management challenges and improve environmental standards across the state.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation and Logistics, Sola Giwa, urged NURTW and RTEAN to embrace their roles as partners in waste management by ensuring full compliance with sanitation regulations at parks and garages under their control.
Meanwhile, LAWMA Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, commended the transport unions for supporting the reintroduced environmental sanitation exercise and encouraged them to sustain their cooperation.
Gbadegesin said waste management requires collective responsibility and cannot be handled by LAWMA alone. He explained that collaboration with transport unions is essential because of their extensive presence across Lagos and their ability to influence proper waste disposal practices.
According to him, LAWMA currently evacuates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily across the state, while transport unions facilitate the movement of an estimated 22 million commuters every day.
He stressed the need for stronger cooperation between the agency and transport operators to ensure cleaner motor parks, roads, and surrounding communities, while also discouraging indiscriminate trading and environmental violations.
Gbadegesin added that LAWMA would continue working closely with transport unions and other stakeholders to monitor compliance and encourage residents to report cases of illegal waste disposal for prompt enforcement action.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Transportation, LAWMA, enforcement agencies, and representatives of NURTW and RTEAN as part of ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and environmental sustainability across Lagos State.
