Lagos reopens Igando dumpsite to address waste crisis

The Lagos State Government has reopened the Igando dumpsite to tackle the city's waste management crisis, according to a report on Wednesday. The facility, which had been shut down, is set to handle at least 100 waste trucks daily, a move anticipated to alleviate waste disposal issues in the Lagos West Senatorial District. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, revealed the reopening during an inspection of the site in Igando.

He explained that the decision came after discussions between the ministry and waste management operators, as part of the state government's emergency measures to address waste management challenges. Igando would serve the Lagos West axis, while the Olusosun dumpsite would handle waste from the eastern part of the state. Wahab called on waste management operators to improve their collection services, particularly in communities where residents have complained about irregular refuse collection.

Dr Olugbenga Adebola, National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, also spoke during the inspection, expressing confidence in the improved waste collection across the Alimosho axis. Adebola noted that the reopening would address challenges faced by operators in accessing disposal facilities, which had previously forced some operators to transport waste to external locations.

The association has nearly 700 trucks in its fleet, and the availability of functional disposal facilities is crucial for effective waste collection and transportation. Adebola urged the state government to rehabilitate three other proposed disposal facilities in Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry, stating that the Igando project was one of the four sites recommended for rehabilitation.

While commending the government for providing resources to support operations at the facility, Adebola acknowledged that waste disposal difficulties might still persist in some parts of the state, particularly in Ikorodu, where the dumpsite had been closed since mid-September.