The Lagos State Government has taken decisive action to restore order and sanitation along a major thoroughfare in the Alimosho Local Government Area. On Saturday, 20th December 2025, a joint enforcement team cleared illegal roadside markets and trader encroachments along the busy Ikotun–Igando Road.
Enforcement Raid Reclaims Roads and Walkways
The operation was led by teams from Project WISE and PSP Services, under the directives of the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab. The commissioner shared a video of the exercise on his official X account, showcasing the clearance of obstructions at Ikotun Main Market, Igando Market, and other informal trading points along the corridor.
"The exercise involved dislodging recalcitrant traders who had encroached on road setbacks and walkways," Wahab stated. He emphasized that the action was necessary to address improper waste disposal and other activities that violate the state's sanitation laws, ultimately aiming to reclaim the roads for public use.
Lagos Doubles Down on Waste-to-Wealth Initiative
Parallel to the enforcement, the state government is aggressively promoting its circular economy model. Commissioner Wahab recently urged all residents to actively participate in the waste-to-wealth initiative. This program is designed to drastically reduce landfill waste by encouraging reuse and recycling.
Officials are visiting areas like Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe every Thursday for "Trash for Cash" drives. Residents can exchange their segregated waste for money at these mobile points, with plans to establish permanent collection centers. This initiative directly aims to discourage the illicit dumping of waste on roads, medians, and canals.
Transitioning Waste from Problem to Resource
Wahab explained that Lagos is shifting from an unsustainable linear waste system to one where waste is viewed as a valuable resource. "We are transitioning from the linear waste system of pick and drop, which is unsustainable and environmentally unfriendly, to a system where waste is viewed as a resource that can be converted into energy," he said.
The state has signed a significant concession agreement with a company called Zoom Lion to convert 4,000 tonnes of daily waste into wealth, with 55% targeted for compost fertiliser and recyclables. Partnerships with firms like Lafarge, which uses waste to generate power, are already underway. These efforts have led to the closure of landfills such as Olososun in Ikeja and Soluos 3 in Igando.
Reiterating the state's commitment, Wahab noted the ban on cart-pushers and their replacement with the structured waste-to-wealth scheme. He called on everyone to embrace the vision for a clean, safe, flood-free, and sustainable Lagos.
