The Lagos State Government has launched an ambitious decade-long strategy to revolutionise waste management in the metropolis, with an initial target of acquiring 100 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) compactor trucks by 2026.
A Long-Term Vision for a Cleaner Lagos
Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), revealed this comprehensive plan during a media briefing in Ikeja. He stated that the procurement of 100 trucks next year is just the beginning of a sustained investment. Subsequently, the state plans to introduce between 200 to 250 new trucks annually to build a robust fleet.
"To keep Lagos clean, we still need compactor trucks. Altogether, we need about 2,000 trucks; 1,000 for the day-to-day fleet and 1,000 for backup," Gbadegesin explained. He described this as a long-term investment that will be supported by a new state-wide automated billing system. This system will involve enumerating every household and issuing bills directly from the government to ensure transparency and prompt payment to service providers.
Sanitising the System and Introducing Mobile Solutions
As part of efforts to enforce standards, LAWMA has already terminated the contracts of about 22 under-performing Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators this year, replacing them with more capable ones. Gbadegesin reiterated that residents are willing to pay for waste collection if they receive efficient service, which the new system aims to guarantee.
To address challenges in hard-to-reach areas with narrow roads, the state is turning to innovative solutions. It plans to acquire 500 mobile compactor tricycles by mid-2026. This initiative was inspired by a successful pilot in Ibeju Lekki, launched in collaboration with the local council chairman, Sesan Olowa, and a local entrepreneur.
"We have decided to replicate this in other parts of Lagos. We had a meeting with all local governments recently where they all pledged to support the new system," the MD said. He added that this model could also integrate informal waste pickers (cart-pushers) into a formal, salaried structure under PSP operators.
Moving from Waste Disposal to Wealth Creation
Gbadegesin strongly advised residents to adopt source separation of waste, emphasising that 90% of discarded materials have value. "Waste to wealth is the key to the survival of Lagos. When you go to Olusosun and Solous 3, you will see it," he noted.
In a significant environmental commitment, he announced the state's move to eventually ban landfill sites. The process to decommission the Olusosun and Soluos 3 dumpsites has begun and is slated for completion within the next 18 months. "We have already gone into two months out of that 18 months. Just give us an allowance for plus or minus. We are committed to decommissioning them," Gbadegesin affirmed.
The LAWMA boss concluded with a warning against indiscriminate dumping, especially in drainage channels, stating that offenders would face the full wrath of the state's sanitation laws.
