Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, acknowledged that certain areas have recently experienced lapses in waste collection, but stressed that the agency remains fully committed to restoring order and maintaining public health standards.
He explained that Lagos’ coastal terrain makes proper waste disposal not just a necessity but a critical public safety issue. According to him, every single bag of refuse dumped carelessly has a ripple effect on the environment.
“A bag of refuse tossed into a drain anywhere in the metropolis does not disappear,” he said. “It blocks culverts, worsens flooding, exposes households to contaminated water, and sends plastics and debris into our canals and lagoon systems. Illegal dumping has consequences far beyond the act itself.”
To address the growing concern, LAWMA has adopted an intelligence-led enforcement system that combines surveillance technology, community reporting, and swift prosecution of offenders. The agency has already intensified on-the-ground operations, targeting black spots notorious for illegal dumping and environmental violations.
Gbadegesin noted that several offenders have been arrested during these enforcement exercises, with commercial tricycle operators being among the most frequently apprehended. He stressed that enforcement efforts would continue alongside ongoing public education campaigns.
“Lagos cannot achieve a clean, flood-resilient city without consequences for illegal dumping and non-compliance,” he said. “Advocacy must continue, but enforcement must be firm and backed by real-time surveillance.”
He also reaffirmed LAWMA’s support for Public Sector Participant (PSP) operators, explaining that the state government is assisting them with recapitalisation to boost efficiency and service delivery across all areas.
As part of its intensified push for environmental cleanliness, the agency confirmed the clearance of a heavily polluted black spot in Somolu Local Council Development Area. The operation was carried out in collaboration with Somolu LCDA, Bariga LCDA, and members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), with additional night and early-morning patrols deployed to secure the area from repeat offenders.
Chairmen of Somolu and Bariga LCDAs have pledged stronger cooperation with LAWMA in sustaining advocacy, maintaining routine monitoring, and enforcing environmental laws in line with directives from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. They urged all councils to take full ownership of waste management within their localities.
To broaden public engagement, LAWMA has also expanded its radio and social media campaigns, focusing on recycling education, proper waste handling, the role of PSP operators, and penalties for environmental violations.
Gbadegesin appealed to Lagosians to take responsibility for their surroundings by embracing proper waste disposal habits and reporting suspicious activities.
“While enforcement is our duty, voluntary compliance is what will secure the future,” he said. “Cleanliness is a shared responsibility, and a polluted environment harms everyone.”
With these renewed measures, the agency says it is confident that Lagos will maintain a healthier, cleaner, and better-organized waste management system in the coming weeks.