Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, 18 June, 2026 ordered the state’s ministry of environment and relevant departments to ramp up waste evacuation across the city with immediate effect, reports thegazellenews.com.
Sanwo-Olu also directed relevant agencies and service providers to work round-the-clock in a bid to clear backlog of waste on street corners and suburbs.
The state is currently under siege of huge refuse heap, with home and industrial waste lining major roads and highways, from the mainland to the island.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, who issued the statement on behalf of his principal on Thursday, 18 June, 2026, said government “acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the recent accumulation of refuse in some parts of the state”.
According to Akosile, the situation is receiving utmost attention from Sanwo-Olu and the state government, adding that residents “deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city”.
“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.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has consequently directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state, with relevant agencies and service providers working round the clock to clear backlogs and restore normalcy as quickly as possible.
“Additional resources have been deployed to support ongoing efforts, while strategic interventions are being implemented to strengthen operational efficiency and improve waste collection and disposal across affected areas.
“The Governor has directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and all other departments in that sector to double down on their efforts,” Akosile said, adding that the challenge of waste evacuation in the city is “temporary” and that “substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations”.
The Special Adviser also appealed to residents to remain calm and patient, adding that the state government is “pursuing a comprehensive response”.
