MANAGING 22 MILLION LAGOSIANS’ WASTE REQUIRES SHARED RESPONSIBILITY - LAWMA
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has emphasised that effective waste management in Lagos requires shared responsibility among residents, operators, and government.
He made this known while delivering a paper at the annual conference of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) at the NECA House, Alausa CBD, on Wednesday, where he addressed the complexities of managing waste in a megacity of over 22 million people.
Dr. Gbadegesin, who spoke through his Executive Director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, described waste management as a critical urban governance issue with far-reaching implications for public health, flood control, environmental sustainability, and the overall functionality of the city.
He explained that household waste collection across Lagos was carried out by licensed Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators under a structured, area-based system regulated and monitored by LAWMA, noting that over 450 operators currently serve communities across the state.
He stressed that the effectiveness of the system depended not only on operational efficiency but also on the cooperation of residents in adopting proper waste disposal practices and patronising assigned PSP operators.
He warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the patronage of illegal cart pushers continued to undermine structured waste management efforts and contributed to environmental challenges such as blocked drainage and flooding.
Dr. Gbadegesin added that as a coastal and highly urbanised city, Lagos must adopt a more disciplined and forward-looking approach to waste management, noting that improperly handled waste often ends up in canals, lagoons, and other water bodies.
He further said that beyond evacuation, the state was gradually promoting more sustainable waste practices, including waste sorting, recycling, and resource recovery, as part of a broader shift towards a more efficient and value-driven waste management system.
According to him, this approach reflected a growing recognition that waste should not be seen solely as a disposal problem but also as a resource that could support economic activity and environmental sustainability when properly managed.
The LAWMA boss also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen system efficiency through improved monitoring, operational interventions, and better coordination among PSP operators and other stakeholders in the waste management value chain.
He underscored the role of the media in shaping public behaviour and perception, urging journalists to provide more context in reporting waste management issues and to promote responsible environmental practices.
Dr. Gbadegesin added that achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos would require sustained collaboration among government, PSP operators, communities, and the media.
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