Sanwo-Olu Orders Immediate Cleanup As Waste Heaps Pile Up Across Lagos

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered an immediate scale‑up of waste evacuation operations across the state, directing environmental agencies to work round the clock to clear a mounting refuse crisis that has drawn sustained public criticism and fears of a public health emergency. In a statement issued on Thursday, June 18, 2026, and shared on his social media platforms, the governor acknowledged the growing complaints from residents over heaps of refuse littering roads, medians, markets, and residential communities across Nigeria’s commercial capital.

“Dear Lagosians, I have directed an immediate scale‑up of waste evacuation across Lagos following the recent build‑up of refuse in some parts of our state,” Sanwo‑Olu wrote. He assured residents that additional trucks and personnel had already been deployed to tackle the challenge. “LAWMA, LASEPA, and the Ministry of Environment are currently working around the clock. We have deployed extra trucks and personnel to clear the backlogs across all affected neighbourhoods. You should already see progress on the streets, and we will not stop until our city is completely clean again.”

The governor’s directive came after weeks of complaints from residents in areas including Oshodi, Isolo, Ajao Estate, Mushin, Idi Araba, Alimosho, Ikotun, Idimu, Ejigbo and Egbeda, where uncollected waste had occupied portions of roads and residential streets. Traders and business operators in commercial districts also raised concerns over the impact of the refuse heaps on hygiene, customer confidence, and business activities. In a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, the government acknowledged the inconvenience caused by the situation and said it was receiving the highest level of attention.

The state government noted that Lagos generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, one of the highest figures on the African continent. The governor acknowledged the scale of the challenge but insisted that the situation was temporary and that his administration was determined to fix it. “Managing this requires a massive effort, but our determination to fix the current challenge is absolute,” he said. The government said relevant agencies and service providers had been mobilised to work round the clock to clear waste backlogs and restore normal sanitation across affected communities, while strategic measures were being introduced to improve efficiency in waste collection and disposal.

The waste crisis has also been linked to operational challenges within the waste management system. Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators had previously reported that congestion and long queues at disposal sites, particularly the Olusosun dumpsite, had slowed evacuation efforts. On June 11, the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority donated 10 waste compactor trucks to the state government to strengthen evacuation operations. The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the trucks would be deployed to critical locations experiencing high waste generation and collection challenges.

While assuring residents of the government’s commitment to resolving the challenge, the governor appealed for public cooperation. “As we continue this cleanup, I ask for your partnership. Please bag your waste properly and avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels or on the roads. We are fully on top of this situation. Let us work together to keep Lagos clean and safe for everyone,” he said.

The directive comes amid broader concerns over the state’s waste management system and follows sustained public criticism over the proliferation of refuse heaps across major roads and residential communities. In March, NewsWatch Metro reported that no fewer than 4,000 persons had been arrested for dumping refuse on roadsides, drainage channels, medians and other unauthorised locations across Lagos State in the previous 12 months, underscoring the enforcement dimension of the waste crisis. The state government has, in recent months, intensified efforts to improve waste management through increased enforcement, environmental sanitation campaigns and investment in waste evacuation infrastructure. With the governor’s latest directive, Lagosians now watch to see whether the promised cleanup will clear the streets or prove to be another temporary intervention in a city that generates more waste than most African countries can manage.

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