By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has secured the support of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)for the monthly environmental sanitation exercise scheduled to resume on Saturday, 25 April, 2026 as part of efforts to strengthen compliance and improve environmental cleanliness across the state.
The commitment was made on Monday, 16 March, 2026 during a courtesy visit by the Commander of the 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore Mohammad Imam, to LAWMA headquarters, where discussions centred on operational cooperation, waste management support and the planned resumption of the sanitation exercise recently reintroduced by the Lagos State Government.
In a statement posted on its Facebook page, LAWMA said the Nigerian Air Force delegation from the Ikeja base commended the agency for its prompt evacuation of waste within the base, noting that the intervention had significantly improved sanitation conditions.
According to the statement, Imam described the agency’s response as a demonstration of dedication to service and partnership in maintaining environmental cleanliness.
“We are here to sincerely appreciate the management and staff of LAWMA for the excellent job done, as the deployment of about twenty trucks to evacuate waste from the base shows dedication to service and partnership in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment,” he said.
The air commodore also welcomed the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos State, assuring that the Nigerian Air Force would support the initiative by deploying officers from the base to ensure compliance.
Responding, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, thanked the NAF delegation for the visit and for recognising the government’s efforts to maintain a cleaner environment, while calling for stronger collaboration between both institutions in technical engagement and operational activities.
Gbadegesin explained that the state had begun transitioning from a linear waste disposal system to a circular economy model in which waste is treated as a valuable resource with economic and environmental benefits.
He cited the biodigester facility at Ikosi Fruit Market as an example of the new approach, noting that organic waste generated within the market is now converted into biogas for energy use.
The LAWMA boss also highlighted the LAWMA Academy initiative, which he said was designed to introduce school children to waste sorting practices, recycling culture and emerging opportunities within the waste management value chain.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen partnerships with government institutions, corporate organisations and communities to advance sustainable waste management and environmental responsibility across Lagos State.
The renewed collaboration comes after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu flagged off the monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday as part of measures to tackle indiscriminate dumping of refuse and improve public hygiene across the state.
However, the resumption of the exercise has generated controversy, as some stakeholders argued that the sanitation programme was suspended by a court order and could only be reinstated through due legal process.
Similarly, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, described the commencement of the monthly sanitation exercise as contemptuous of the existing court order, insisting that the government must follow the rule of law in reinstating the programme.
