Lagos, where waste refused to go away
In recent months, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, has been battling mounting piles of refuse along major roads and in drainage channels across the metropolis, with many residents complaining that waste collection now takes weeks in some areas. The uncollected refuse litters roads, markets and residential areas, raising concerns among residents and experts that the […]
Lagos, Nigeria's bustling commercial hub, has been grappling with a mounting waste crisis in recent months. Streets, markets, and residential areas are littered with uncollected refuse, raising concerns over public health, business disruption, and the city's image. From Mushin to Ojo, Egbeda to Apapa, heaps of decomposing waste line the streets and drainage channels, creating unpleasant odors, attracting flies and rodents.
The waste management situation in Lagos has evolved over the past decade, with different administrations employing various strategies to tackle the growing refuse problem. Former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode launched the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) in 2017, partnering with Visionscape Sanitation Solutions to modernize waste collection through new technology, transfer stations, engineered landfills, and waste-to-energy projects. However, implementation issues and public dissatisfaction derailed the initiative.
Following the change of administration in 2019, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu restored LAWMA as the lead agency and focused on recycling, composting, waste-to-wealth initiatives, and other circular economy programs. Despite these efforts, the refuse management crisis persists.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat recently attributed the worsening waste situation to increased waste generation, a shortage of functional collection trucks, and the scale of refuse being higher than initially estimated. The state government initially estimated daily waste generation to be around 13,000 tonnes, but later discovered it to be closer to 17,000 tonnes. Hamzat emphasized the importance of accurate data for effective waste management planning.
The crisis has spilled over into neighboring Ogun State, with trucks linked to LAWMA allegedly dumping refuse around the Sagamu–Ikorodu Expressway in Ogun State. Residents and the management of a nearby health college have expressed concerns about the environmental and health risks posed by this practice. The situation worsens during the rainy season, as blocked drains exacerbate flooding and stagnant water mixed with decomposing waste, creating breeding grounds for disease-causing organisms.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Trust's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
