By Augustine Akhilomen

Lagos, the self-proclaimed Centre of Excellence, is gradually witnessing indiscriminate dump sites across the metropolis without the relevant agencies doing their job and sluggish intervention to cleaned up the mess by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

The state government through the Lagos State Environmental (Sanitation and Waste Control) Regulations 2014 stipulated guidelines for waste collection and disposal in the state.

And even though the state government officials have been moving round the state and closing down or sealing some popular markets within the state for their indiscriminate dumping and burning of refuse, filthy environment, blocked and littered drainages, more efforts however need to be made in clearing mountain of wastes dumped along the roads side and streets across the state.

It would be recalled that just last week, popular markets such as Ladipo, Oyingbo, Alamutu Ologede and Ile-Epo, Mile 12 International Market and Owode Onirin Market were shut down over what the officials described as non-compliance with environmental laws.

According to the World Health Organisation, WHO, over 2.4 billion people could be at risk of potentially fatal diseases if waste disposal issues persist as is happening presently in Lagos. Meanwhile, the state government had at different occasions declared zero tolerance to indiscriminate waste disposal in unauthorised places. But the view in some quarters is that nothing seems to have changed because enforcement agencies have not done enough to checkmate the excesses of people dumping refuse on the roads and drainages.

Also, a World Bank report estimated that at 0.51 kilograms of waste generated daily by each Nigerian would rise to 107 million tonnes by 2050, a development that presents both a threat and an opportunity.

On a recent visit by our reporter to some of the major highways, especially the highly commercialized areas, it was observed that some Lagos highways have become refuse dumpsites. In most cases, it was observed that refuse heaps were left uncleared for several days. Prominent among the dirtiest of the highways are the under listed:

Some of these areas such as Itire, Lawanson, Oshodi by Bolade bus stop, Ojuelegba, Orile, Cele, Okota, Ejigbo, Ikotun, Apapa on Creek road, and others shows liters of wastes creating an unpleasant bad smells capable of causing health problems amongst residents.

Lagos state generates daily waste average of about 12,000 metric tonnes and it’s as if half of the generated wastes from the state are deposited on the roads. Residents of Lawanson and Mushin environs of Lagos State are groaning over the continued accumulation of refuse heaps in their neighbourhood.

Some residents said since PSP operators engaged by LAWMA no longer come to their streets to pick up refuse, they now dispose of their wastes on major roads and drainage at midnight.

A resident in Mushin, Kamoru Isaq, said before now, there were mini-trucks working with sweepers, but that they have suddenly disappeared. Also, Dimeji Joseph, who lives off Osolo way, along with the Aswani market Isolo, said the government should overhaul its old system of refuse collection and disposal.

“To get things back to normal, the old system should be overhauled. LAWMA should evacuate on time and the citizens should be educated on the need to keep their surroundings clean and tidy at all times”, he said.

Also speaking, Mrs. Glory Chima, a nurse, said that it was unhealthy to have heaps of dirt on the road.

“Indiscriminate dumping of waste promotes the breeding of insects such as houseflies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, tsetse flies, which transmit diseases like typhoid, malaria, diarrhea, cholera, sleeping sickness and scabies.

“It’s really a bad thing to have one exposed to such waste as it pollutes the air and gives a smelly atmosphere,’’ she said.

Commenting on the issue, Mike Karikpo, Programme Director at Environment Rights Action, Friends of the Earth Nigeria, said it is a dangerous thing and should not be seen happening in a metropolitan city like Lagos.

“It is very dangerous, especially when waste is not sorted. You could have very dangerous waste from hospitals, labs, industries that could be dumped on the roads. It’s inimical to the health of people in the area”.

“Apart from the air pollution and methane that it releases into the atmosphere, it could also impact the groundwater. All of these things can sink into the groundwater, those who have boreholes around there could be drinking contaminated water and this could be serious contamination,” he said.

However, a source in the Ministry of Environment told Thepledge that the Lagos State Govt is doing everything possible to ensure that the streets, roads and highways are free from illegal disposal of refuse within the state.

“The State is aware of the development and is doing everything to curb the illegal dumping of refuse in the streets, roads and highways.

“Keeping the state clean and providing a healthy atmosphere remains one of the main priorities of the government and I am sure drastic action will be taken soon.”

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed to residents to acquire waste bins and regularly clean up their surroundings, as it plans to commence full enforcement on homes and business premises, in weeks to come.

It reminded residents of their legal obligation towards a sustainable environment, which included acquiring covered waste bins, shunning reckless waste disposal and mandatory patronage of assigned PSP operators.

“It is imperative for every resident in the state, from households to businesses, to be aware of their legal obligations regarding waste management. This includes the procurement and proper use of bins, engagement of Private Sector Participants (PSPs), refraining from indiscriminate waste disposal, and maintaining drains and the cleanliness of the frontage of their establishments.

Interestingly, the Lagos State Government has arrested at least 31 environmental offenders, for improper disposal of waste and flagrant disregard of the environmental laws of the state, pending their arraignment before a magistrate court on Monday.

The enforcement action is in continuation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s zero tolerance policy, involving a combined team of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI.

The offenders, apprehended in different locations in the state, were engaged in acts capable of defacing the environment and derailing efforts of the state government to entrench cleanliness in the metropolis.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the arrest and subsequent prosecution of defaulters who engage in indiscriminate waste disposal showed it was no longer business as usual, saying the state government could not fold its hands and watch some elements derail efforts to maintain sanity in the city.

This, according to him, would serve as a deterrent and warning to others.

Wahab said that the era of people hiding under the guise of darkness to dump waste at unauthorised locations was over, warning that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

However, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority needs to identify the most appropriate waste streams (multiple, single or dirty recycling) according to the income level of residents. The multiple recycling stream means that several bins are provided for the collection of different recyclable materials. A single recycling stream involves collecting all recyclable materials in a single bin. Dirty recycling streams put all waste in a single bin without sorting and separation.

Experts are of the view that street sweepers and waste pickers should become city employees. Sweepers should be replaced by sweeping trucks with appropriate training.


Dumpsites should be upgraded to landfills. Appropriate technologies and digital solutions should be adopted. And people should be made aware of waste separation and sorting through the school curriculum, social media, television, radio and billboards.


By doing so, there will possibly be an improvement to the state at which refuse or dustbins are dumped unnecessary along the road side. More importantly, however, is that offenders who dump waste materials on the roads and drainage should be made to face the law. Lagos cannot afford to be dirty if the development goals are to be met.