The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has stepped up efforts to restore environmental cleanliness across Lagos with a major clean-up operation targeting several waste black spots in the Apapa axis.
The intervention covered key locations including Marine Beach, Warehouse Road, Randle Road, Mobile Road, and other identified areas affected by indiscriminate waste disposal. The exercise forms part of LAWMA’s continued efforts to improve waste evacuation, promote environmental sustainability, and maintain a cleaner Lagos.
Speaking during the exercise, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to eliminating illegal dumping across the state, warning that individuals and businesses found violating environmental regulations would face appropriate sanctions.
According to him, many of the recurring waste dumps in the affected areas were caused by residents and businesses that deliberately avoided approved waste collection channels to evade payment for waste management services.
“Many of the people generating waste in these locations are not captured within the formal PSP system. Despite repeated evacuation exercises by LAWMA and PSP operators, the waste keeps returning because some individuals continue to dispose of waste illegally,” he said.
Dr. Gbadegesin expressed concern over the huge public resources spent repeatedly clearing illegal dump sites, only for some locations to become polluted again shortly after evacuation. He stressed that achieving a cleaner Lagos required collective responsibility from government agencies, residents, businesses, markets, and institutions.
He disclosed that LAWMA was expanding waste collection services through the deployment of tricycle compactors and other innovative systems aimed at improving waste evacuation in areas where conventional compactor trucks cannot easily operate.
The LAWMA boss also revealed that efforts were ongoing to integrate willing cart pushers into a regulated waste management framework to improve service delivery and address some of the factors contributing to illegal dumping.
He further encouraged residents to adopt waste sorting practices by separating recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, and aluminium from general waste.
“A significant proportion of materials currently regarded as waste still have economic value and can be recovered through recycling and resource recovery initiatives. Waste sorting at source will support environmental sustainability and contribute to the growth of the circular economy,” he said.
Dr. Gbadegesin maintained that a clean environment was essential for public health, sustainable development, and economic growth. He urged residents to patronise approved PSP operators, comply with environmental regulations, take responsibility for their surroundings, and report waste management violations through LAWMA’s official channels.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government, Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, commended LAWMA for the intervention and pledged the council’s continued partnership in promoting environmental cleanliness and sustainable waste management within the area.
