By Gold Jeremiah
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the immediate intensification of waste evacuation efforts across the state following growing concerns over the accumulation of refuse in several parts of the city.
The governor ordered the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, along with relevant agencies and waste service providers, to operate around the clock to clear waste backlogs and restore cleanliness across affected communities.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the state government acknowledged residents’ concerns over the increasing volume of refuse in parts of Lagos and assured the public that urgent measures are being implemented to address the situation.
According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu has directed environmental agencies to scale up operations, deploy additional resources and strengthen waste collection systems to ensure a quicker response to the challenge.
“Lagosians deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city, and this administration remains fully committed to fulfilling that responsibility,” the statement said.
The governor noted that agencies including the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and other relevant departments have been instructed to intensify their efforts to improve waste management across the state.
Akosile described the refuse accumulation as a temporary challenge, adding that noticeable progress has already been made in several locations through ongoing evacuation exercises.
He appealed to residents to remain patient and cooperative while the government implements a comprehensive response aimed at resolving the issue and preventing future occurrences.
The development comes amid widespread complaints from residents over heaps of refuse lining major roads, highways and street corners across Lagos.
Earlier reports had linked the growing waste crisis to operational challenges among some Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators engaged by LAWMA. Residents in several communities have accused some operators of failing to carry out regular waste collection, forcing many households to resort to indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
In response to environmental concerns, the Lagos State Government in April reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, a programme that had been suspended for nearly a decade following a court ruling in 2016.
Authorities say the renewed sanitation initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve environmental sustainability and strengthen waste management across the state.
