Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state following growing concerns over the accumulation of refuse in several communities.
The directive comes amid complaints from residents about mounting waste heaps in parts of the state, prompting the government to intensify efforts to restore normal sanitation and waste collection services.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, the state government acknowledged the concerns raised by residents and assured Lagosians that the situation was receiving urgent attention.
According to the statement, relevant government agencies and waste management operators have been mobilised to work around the clock to clear existing backlogs and improve environmental sanitation across affected areas.
“The Lagos State Government acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the recent accumulation of refuse in some parts of the state and wishes to assure Lagosians that the situation is receiving the highest level of attention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the entire machinery of government.
“We are not oblivious to the inconveniences and concerns occasioned by the situation. Lagosians deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city, and this administration remains fully committed to delivering on that obligation,” the statement said.
Akosile disclosed that additional resources had been deployed to support ongoing waste evacuation efforts, while strategic measures were being implemented to strengthen operational efficiency and enhance waste collection and disposal processes.
He noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu had directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and other relevant agencies to intensify their activities across the state.
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The government emphasised the enormous challenge of managing waste in a megacity such as Lagos, noting that the state generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, making it one of Africa’s highest waste-producing urban centres.
Despite the current challenges, the government described the situation as temporary and expressed confidence that ongoing interventions would yield visible improvements in the coming days.
“We wish to reassure residents that this challenge is temporary. Indeed, substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations, and more improvements will become visible across the state in the days ahead,” Akosile stated.
The state government also appealed to residents, market associations, businesses and community leaders to support environmental sanitation initiatives by properly disposing of waste and refraining from activities that obstruct drainage systems, roads and designated waste collection points.
It reiterated its commitment to maintaining environmental standards, safeguarding public health and ensuring that Lagos remains a clean and sustainable city.
The renewed waste evacuation drive forms part of broader efforts by the Sanwo-Olu administration to strengthen environmental management and address sanitation challenges associated with the state’s growing population and urban expansion.