By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority has said effective waste management in the state can only be achieved through strong collaboration among government, private operators, residents and other stakeholders in the waste management value chain.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made this known on Wednesday, 18 March, 2026 while presenting a paper at the annual conference of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria held at NECA House, Alausa, Lagos, where he spoke on the need for collective responsibility in maintaining environmental sanitation in the state.
Gbadegesin, who was represented at the event by the Executive Director, Finance, Kunle Adebiyi, described waste management as a critical urban governance issue with far-reaching consequences for public health, flood control, environmental sustainability and the overall functionality of Lagos as a megacity.
He explained that household waste collection across the state is currently handled by licensed Private Sector Participant operators under a structured, area-based arrangement supervised by the authority.
According to him, the system is regulated and monitored by LAWMA, with more than 450 operators providing services to various communities across Lagos State.
He said, “The effectiveness of the system depends not only on operational efficiency but also on the cooperation of residents in adopting proper waste disposal practices and patronising assigned PSP operators.”
Gbadegesin warned that indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the activities of illegal cart pushers continue to undermine structured waste management efforts, thereby worsening environmental challenges in the state.
He noted, “Indiscriminate dumping of waste and the patronage of illegal cart pushers have continued to weaken the system and contribute to blocked drainage channels, flooding and other environmental problems.”
The LAWMA boss further stressed that Lagos, being a coastal and highly urbanised city, must adopt a more disciplined and forward-looking approach to waste management to prevent long-term environmental damage.
“As a coastal and highly urbanised city, Lagos must adopt a more disciplined and forward-looking approach to waste management, because improperly handled waste often ends up in canals, lagoons and other water bodies,” he said.
He added that the state government was gradually shifting from mere waste evacuation to more sustainable waste management practices, including sorting, recycling and resource recovery.
According to him, the new approach is aimed at building a more efficient and value-driven system capable of supporting environmental sustainability and economic development.
He said, “Beyond evacuation, the state is promoting sustainable waste practices such as sorting, recycling and resource recovery as part of a broader shift towards a more efficient waste management system. Waste should not be seen only as a disposal problem but also as a resource that can support economic activity when properly managed.”
Gbadegesin also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the system through improved monitoring, operational interventions and better coordination among PSP operators and other stakeholders involved in waste management across the state.
He, however, urged the media to play a more active role in promoting responsible environmental behaviour, calling on journalists to provide proper context when reporting waste management issues.
He said responsible reporting would help residents understand their role in maintaining a cleaner and safer environment.
