The Lagos State Government has explained that the recent pile-up of waste in some parts of the state is mainly due to the ongoing closure of the Olusosun dumpsite.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement shared on his official X handle on Monday, assuring residents that the situation is being handled.
Wahab said the decommissioning of the Olusosun landfill has forced the state to change its waste disposal process, leading to delays in refuse evacuation.
“The ongoing decommissioning of the Olusosun landfill has necessitated a significant shift in waste disposal logistics. Refuse previously destined for Olusosun is now being transported to alternative facilities in Epe and Badagry,” he said.
He explained that the longer distance to the new landfill sites has increased turnaround time for some Private Sector Participation operators, placing temporary strain on waste collection.
According to him, this challenge has resulted in refuse buildup in some areas of the state.
To address the situation, the commissioner said the Lagos Waste Management Authority had been directed to support PSP operators struggling to cope.
“LAWMA has been directed to provide immediate support in areas where PSP operators are overwhelmed. Intervention activities are actively ongoing, particularly at identified black spots across the state,” Wahab said.
He added that the state government is also working on deploying more trucks to improve response time and strengthen LAWMA’s operational capacity.
Wahab further revealed that a special task force has been set up to tackle illegal dumping and indiscriminate waste disposal across Lagos.
“A dedicated Task Force has been established to specifically combat illegal roadside dumping and indiscriminate waste disposal caused majorly by illegal roadside trading,” he said.
He added that the task force would carry out round-the-clock monitoring and enforcement.
The commissioner urged residents to dispose of their waste properly and use only approved PSP operators, while assuring them that the government is taking responsibility for the inconvenience.
“While we take full responsibility for these inconveniences, let me assure all Lagosians that this administration is fully committed to the vision of a cleaner, more orderly, and sustainable city,” he said.
Wuzup Nigeria had earlier reported that the state government arrested three people for illegally dumping refuse along the Ikotun–Igando Road median.
According to Wahab, the arrests were made during early morning operations carried out on Monday by LAWMA’s Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team as part of efforts to clear waste black spots along the corridor.
