Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), has revealed a startling figure at the heart of the state’s waste challenge: approximately 90 per cent of all disposed waste in Lagos holds an economic value estimated at a massive $2.5 billion
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is sharpening its reform agenda, arguing that the future of the state’s environmental health lies in transforming waste into economic value. Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the agency’s Managing Director, says an overwhelming share of the city’s waste stream—about 90 percent—is recoverable and worth an estimated $2.5 billion if properly sorted, collected, and recycled.
In a wide-ranging briefing, Gbadegesin outlined a series of forthcoming policy shifts, enforcement measures, and infrastructure investments designed to reposition Lagos for a modern circular-economy model. He stressed that residents must stop indiscriminate dumping, especially on roadsides, canals, drains, and wetlands, noting that such practices both endanger the environment and undermine the state’s waste-to-wealth strategy.
According to him, proper waste separation at the household level is now unavoidable. “We must stop throwing everything away. Sorting is the standard in advanced countries, and Lagos must get there,” he said, noting the potential to unlock huge economic value from recyclables commonly discarded.
Shift Away From Landfills
A major structural reform is the state’s plan to phase out traditional landfills. Gbadegesin disclosed that Olusosun and Solous 3, two of Lagos’s largest dumpsites, have entered an 18-month decommissioning window, signalling a move toward more sustainable disposal and treatment technologies. The process is already underway, he said, though he asked the public to allow for minor adjustments to the timeline if needed.
Stronger Enforcement: 377 New Environmental Officers
As part of efforts to strengthen compliance, the state will recruit 377 environmental health officers—popularly known as wole-wole—beginning January 2026. Each ward will have at least one officer empowered by law to identify offenders, make arrests, and initiate prosecution for violations of sanitation regulations. Gbadegesin described the move as a return to “the old system of firm, community-level enforcement,” but with modern tools.
Deepening Infrastructure Capacity
Despite the state generating 13,000 to 15,000 tonnes of waste daily, only about 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes are currently lifted by roughly 450 PSP operators. The remainder often ends up in gutters, lagoons, or wetlands—an outcome Gbadegesin attributes to Lagos’s major infrastructure shortfall.
He revealed that LAWMA is rolling out 80,000 smart bins, acknowledging that the city needs many more. The authority also requires about 2,000 compactor trucks—1,000 for daily operations and 1,000 as backup. A portion of this need will be met next year, when the state begins deploying 100 new CNG-powered compactor trucks under a new 10-year waste-management development plan. A statewide automation-backed billing system will accompany the investment to ensure transparency, efficiency, and timely payments to PSP operators.
Addressing Underperformance and Expanding PSP Capacity
Gbadegesin confirmed that 22 PSP operators had been removed this year for underperformance and replaced with new entrants. He emphasized that accountability remains central to LAWMA’s reforms and insisted Lagos residents are willing to pay for services if they receive reliable, consistent waste collection.
Tricycle Compactors for Hard-to-Reach Communities
To address waste management in densely populated or inaccessible communities, the state plans to procure 500 mobile compactor tricycles by mid-next year. Trial operations in Ibeju-Lekki—initiated through collaboration between the local council and a private entrepreneur—have been highly successful, prompting plans for statewide replication.
Gbadegesin noted that the tricycle-based system could also create structured employment by integrating cart pushers, who can be hired by PSP operators and placed on payrolls.
Strengthening Local Government Collaboration
LAWMA is also working closely with local governments, with at least 25 councils already forming their own waste-management task forces. The agency sees these community-level partnerships as key to delivering cleaner streets, unclogged drains, and a more orderly urban environment.
Towards a Cleaner, More Accountable Lagos
The LAWMA chief reiterated the agency’s commitment to a cleaner, safer, and more efficient Lagos. With new infrastructure, stricter enforcement, expanded workforce, and community partnerships, he said the state is poised to tackle its waste challenges from the ground up while unlocking the vast economic value hidden in its daily refuse.