Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reportedly directed the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, to resign over the worsening waste management situation across the state.
According to reports, the governor is dissatisfied with the handling of refuse evacuation operations, particularly the slow pace of waste collection and the alleged failure to promptly implement directives aimed at addressing the growing sanitation challenge.
The development follows Sanwo-Olu’s visit to the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago, during which he reportedly expressed concern over conditions at the facility and ordered immediate measures to improve waste evacuation across the state.
Lagos has witnessed increasing waste accumulation in recent months, with heaps of refuse visible on road medians, drainage channels and residential areas in several parts of the metropolis.
Residents have repeatedly complained about delays in waste collection, with some reporting that refuse disposal trucks operated by Private Sector Participants (PSPs) take days or even weeks to return for scheduled pickups.
The delays have left many communities battling overflowing waste bins, foul odours and concerns over environmental sanitation and public health.
Industry operators have linked part of the challenge to operational difficulties at the Olusosun dumpsite, one of the state’s major waste disposal facilities. Waste collection companies have cited long queues, poor access roads and delays in unloading refuse at the site as major obstacles to efficient service delivery.
Some truck operators reportedly spend several days waiting to offload waste, reducing turnaround time and worsening the backlog of refuse awaiting collection in various neighbourhoods.
The Lagos State Government has previously acknowledged the challenges facing the sector.
In September, Governor Sanwo-Olu declared what he described as a “small state of emergency” on waste management after inspecting the Olusosun dumpsite. He subsequently announced measures to address the problem, including increasing the number of trucks allowed to offload waste, deploying additional equipment and reactivating alternative disposal facilities.
The governor also disclosed plans to strengthen waste collection operations through the procurement of 160 new compactor trucks.
Neither LAWMA nor the Lagos State Government had officially commented on the reported resignation directive as of the time of filing this report.
