The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has urged media organisations to ensure diligence, context, and accuracy when reporting on waste management activities in Lagos State, while clarifying the operational structure guiding solid waste collection and disposal.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the appeal on Friday while responding to recent media reports highlighting waste evacuation challenges in some parts of the state.
According to him, routine household waste collection across Lagos is primarily handled by licensed Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators, who work under strict regulatory supervision and performance monitoring by the agency. He noted that contrary to some reports, LAWMA does not directly collect municipal solid waste from households.
“LAWMA enforces defined service benchmarks and maintenance standards while activating targeted interventions wherever performance gaps are identified. Residents are encouraged to report service gaps whenever they observe them,” Gbadegesin said.
He further clarified that compactor trucks used for residential waste evacuation are owned and operated by PSP operators, adding that the LAWMA inscriptions on the trucks are for regulatory identification and not an indication that the vehicles belong to the agency.
The LAWMA chief also assured residents that all designated landfill facilities in the state remain operational, professionally managed, and accessible to licensed operators to ensure proper and compliant waste disposal.
Gbadegesin explained that waste management in the megacity of more than 22 million residents must be viewed within the context of ongoing reforms aimed at improving efficiency and sustainability in the sector.
He highlighted the optimisation of Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) to enhance fleet turnaround time and operational efficiency, as well as the expansion of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) to support the state’s transition to a circular economy focused on recycling, resource recovery, and reduced reliance on landfills.
While acknowledging the progress being made, he noted that waste management in Lagos continues to face pressure from rapid urbanisation, population growth, and behavioural practices that hinder compliance with sanitation regulations.
Gbadegesin also warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the patronage of illegal cart pushers undermine the structured waste management system in the state.
He reaffirmed that LAWMA’s ongoing reforms covering infrastructure development, enforcement, and logistics modernisation are designed to deliver a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally sustainable Lagos.
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