Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Flowing from a memo published on the 25th of June 2026, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority has intensified its battle against environmental degradation, launching a major clean-up intervention at notorious black spots in the Apapa axis as part of an ongoing campaign to restore sanity and improve waste evacuation across the state. The enforcement drive, led by the Authority's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, covered several locations including Marine Beach, Warehouse Road, Randle Road, and Mobile Road, where incidents of indiscriminate refuse disposal had escalated in recent weeks.
During the comprehensive inspection tour, Gbadegesin issued a stern warning to offenders, reiterating the Authority's determination to rid the city of illegal waste dumping and cautioning that violators would face appropriate sanctions under extant environmental laws. The visit came in response to escalating complaints from residents and local business proprietors who had grown frustrated with the unsightly heaps of refuse that had become a common feature along the Apapa corridor, one of Lagos State's most critical economic zones.
Gbadegesin lamented that substantial public resources were routinely deployed to clear illegal waste dumps across the city, only for some locations to be re-contaminated shortly after evacuation. He noted that many of the black spots persisted because some residents and businesses deliberately bypassed approved waste collection channels in an attempt to evade payment for waste management services. "Many of the people generating waste in these locations are not captured within the formal PSP system. As a result, despite repeated evacuation exercises by LAWMA and PSP operators, the waste keeps reappearing. We cannot continue to expend public resources in clearing the same locations while some individuals persist in illegal waste disposal practices," he stated.
The LAWMA chief stressed that achieving a cleaner Lagos required not only government intervention but also the active cooperation of residents, businesses, market operators, and institutions in adopting responsible waste disposal practices. While the Authority continues to intensify enforcement activities, identify waste blackspots, and enhance partnerships with local governments, businesses, and security agencies, residents also bear a significant responsibility. He urged citizens to take ownership of their surroundings, patronise approved PSP operators, comply with environmental regulations, and report waste management infractions through established LAWMA channels.
To improve service delivery, Gbadegesin disclosed that the Authority was expanding waste collection options through the deployment of tricycle compactors and other innovative collection systems designed to improve waste evacuation in areas inaccessible to conventional compactor trucks. Ongoing efforts to integrate willing cart pushers into a structured and regulated waste collection framework would also help address some of the underlying causes of indiscriminate dumping while improving service delivery in underserved communities. The Authority further plans to augment surveillance and enforcement operations across Apapa, with businesses and residents engaging in the patronage of cart pushers or disposing of waste in median strips and drainage systems facing strict penalties.
Gbadegesin also encouraged residents to embrace waste sorting at source by separating recyclable materials such as plastics, paper, cardboard, glass, and aluminium from general waste. "A significant proportion of the materials currently disposed of as waste still retain economic value and can be recovered through recycling and resource recovery initiatives. By embracing waste sorting at source, residents can support environmental sustainability while contributing to the circular economy," he said. The Authority maintains that a clean environment remains essential for public health, environmental sustainability, and economic development.
Commenting on the exercise, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government, Hon. Idowu Adejumoke Senbanjo, commended LAWMA for the intervention and pledged the council's continued collaboration in promoting environmental cleanliness and sustainable waste management within the local government area. The clean-up drive marks the latest phase of LAWMA's sustained campaign against environmental degradation, following recent enforcement actions including the "Show Your PSP Payment Receipt" compliance operation launched earlier in the year to close service gaps contributing to illegal dumping and blackspot formation across the Apapa-Iganmu communities.
As the clean-up operations continue, the message from LAWMA is clear: the fight for a cleaner Lagos is far from over, and the Authority will not relent in its efforts to ensure a sustainable and livable environment for all residents. The agency has reiterated that for the city's waste management infrastructure to operate effectively, citizens must take responsibility for their environment by disposing of waste responsibly, utilizing designated bins and channels, and making prompt payments for waste collection services. Offenders will be prosecuted in accordance with state environmental laws.
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