Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has declared a state of emergency on waste collection across the state, ordering immediate measures to address the challenges affecting the sector.
Sanwo-Olu made the declaration on Wednesday during an inspection of the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, accompanied by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
The governor also met with stakeholders in the waste management sector at the dumpsite to assess the factors responsible for the recent slowdown in municipal waste collection and outline immediate, medium- and long-term interventions.
Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that waste collection had slowed in several parts of Lagos in recent weeks, attributing the situation partly to the inability of some Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to meet their obligations.
He said waste compaction activities were ongoing at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites, adding that the completion of the projects would improve turnaround time and facilitate faster waste disposal.
The governor also attributed some of the operational delays to recent fire incidents at the dumpsites, noting that work had resumed as contractors continued efforts to clear the sites for daily waste disposal.
According to him, the completion of ongoing projects would enable each of the two dumpsites to receive about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively increasing the capacity available to PSP operators.
“In the past couple of weeks, we have seen pressure and slow turnaround in waste collection in different parts of the city. We have seen residents throwing waste indiscriminately at undesignated areas in the city.
“We are here to see what the problem is and for us to be able to declare a state of emergency so that we can take the state out of this unpleasant situation,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He disclosed that the state government, in partnership with development partners, was planning a 2,400-metric-tonne transfer loading station at Olusosun to receive compacted waste before it is transported to Material Recovery Facilities.
The governor said another transfer loading station of similar capacity was being developed at Solous 3 in Alimosho, with access road works expected to be completed within two to three weeks.
As part of the immediate response, Sanwo-Olu directed the stabilisation and rehabilitation of access roads to the state’s five dumpsites to enable waste trucks to move in and out more efficiently.
He specifically ordered the rehabilitation of access roads to the dumpsites at Ewu Elepe and Oke Oso.
The governor also disclosed that the state government had procured 160 modern compactors to increase waste collection capacity, while development partners working with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority would provide additional equipment.
He said the government would also procure landfill compactors specifically designed for operations at dumpsites.
PSP operators to face stricter oversight
Sanwo-Olu said increasing the capacity of PSP operators was another key component of the government’s response, noting that some of the existing compactors were unsuitable for the demands of Lagos.
“We have ordered 160 modern compactors, and they will start coming in soon. This will immediately increase the capacity of waste collection from the tenements and roads to bring them to the dumpsites,” he said.
He added that PSP operators had agreed to reassess their operations and remove companies that lacked the capacity to effectively participate in the waste management system.
According to the governor, the operators had indicated their willingness to retain only companies with the required capacity, expertise and commitment to invest in the sector.
“We don’t want to have a situation where we will have 800 PSP operators for a job that can only be done by 400 operators,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu added that PSP operators had also agreed to procure additional trucks as the government increased its fleet of compactors.
He said the government would work with the operators to reduce the financial risks associated with the investments and prevent operators from becoming insolvent.
Lagos plans more transfer and recycling facilities
The governor identified transfer loading stations and Material Recovery Facilities as key components of the state’s medium- and long-term waste management strategy.
He said residents would begin to see physical infrastructure taking shape at the proposed facilities before the end of the year, although completion was expected next year.
“We are building two Material Recovery Facilities. One of them is in Oke Oso, Epe; the other is at Erekiti in Badagry,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu explained that once the transfer loading stations become operational, waste would be compacted and moved more efficiently to the recovery facilities for sorting and recycling.
He said the medium- to long-term plan was expected to be substantially implemented by the second quarter of next year.
The governor also warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, directing the immediate prosecution of anyone caught disposing of waste in unauthorised locations.
He further criticised what he described as ineffective supervision of waste management operations and announced that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority would undergo organisational reforms aimed at improving efficiency and accountability.
