Sanwo-Olu reportedly demands LAWMA boss’ resignation over mounting refuse in Lagos

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly asked the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, to resign over the growing accumulation of refuse on roads across the metropolis.

According to a report by Very Nigerian, the governor is dissatisfied with Gbadegeshin’s handling of the waste management crisis, particularly the slow evacuation of refuse and the alleged failure to promptly implement his directives.

The report stated that Sanwo-Olu’s concerns followed a visit to the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago, during which he reportedly expressed displeasure with the situation and directed that urgent steps be taken to address the problem.

LAGOS’ WASTE MANAGEMENT CRISIS

The waste crisis in Lagos has worsened in recent months, with heaps of refuse piling up on road medians and in residential areas across the state.

In some areas, refuse has remained uncollected for weeks and accumulating around drainage channels and raising concerns about sanitation and public health.

Residents have complained about delays in waste collection, with trucks operated by private sector participants (PSPs) sometimes taking days or weeks to return to clear refuse.

The delays have left some communities grappling with overflowing refuse, offensive odours and unsightly streets.

The problem has been linked partly to difficulties at the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, one of Lagos’ major waste disposal facilities.

Waste collection operators have complained about long queues, damaged access roads and delays in offloading refuse.

Some truck drivers reportedly spend several days at the facility before they can discharge their loads.

As a result, trucks take longer to return to neighbourhoods and quickly enough to collect more waste, worsening the backlog across the state.

The Lagos state government has also acknowledged the challenges facing waste evacuation.

In September, Sanwo-Olu declared a “small state of emergency” on waste management after inspecting the Olusosun dumpsite.

He announced plans to increase the number of trucks that could offload refuse at the site, deploy additional equipment and reactivate other disposal facilities to ease the pressure on Olusosun.

Sanwo-Olu also said the government had ordered 160 new compactor trucks to strengthen waste collection across the state.

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