Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly asked the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign over the slow pace of waste evacuation. The request, reported by The Punch on Monday, comes about a month after the governor declared a state of emergency on waste management in the state.
Governor's Discontent and the Reported Ultimatum
According to The Punch, which cited an unnamed source within the agency, the governor made the request over the weekend because he was dissatisfied with the slow pace of waste evacuation and an alleged failure to act promptly on his directives. The source said Governor Sanwo-Olu visited the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago, was unhappy with what he saw, and ordered immediate action. He was reportedly upset that the situation had not improved.
Gbadegesin is said to be appealing the decision. Neither the Lagos State Government nor LAWMA had publicly confirmed or responded to the report at the time of filing.
Background: The Waste Emergency Declaration
The reported ultimatum follows the emergency Sanwo-Olu declared in September after inspecting the Olusosun dumpsite, where he met stakeholders and outlined immediate, medium-term and long-term measures. He said completing ongoing compaction work at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites would let each receive about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the capacity of private sector participation (PSP) operators.
It was also reported that LAWMA took over interim collection in Okeira and Oluodo after the contracts of PSP operators there were terminated. Reports said fire incidents at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites had slowed operations, although work had resumed.
Waste Generation and Ongoing Challenges
Lagos generates an estimated 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, according to the state's Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab. The city faces immense infrastructural pressure to keep up with domestic and commercial refuse disposal. LAWMA, working with PSP operators, coordinates waste collection and disposal across Lagos. Gbadegesin has said the aim is to move from clearing refuse to sustained collection and preventing it from building up again.
Residents in several parts of Lagos have complained for months about refuse piling up along roads, streets, road medians and drainage channels. Accumulation has continued in several communities despite the interventions.
Gbadegesin's Tenure and History
Gbadegesin has led LAWMA before. He resigned as managing director in August 2020 for personal reasons, according to a statement by the state's Head of Service at the time, and was later reappointed by Sanwo-Olu after the governor's re-election. The current situation leaves the agency's leadership in question as the state continues to grapple with waste management challenges.
