Residents of Lagos State have heaved a sigh of relief following improvement recorded in waste collection in the metropolis by the state government and Private Sector Participation(PSP) operators who have deployed more compactors to tackle the problem of mounting waste crisis in the state.
The state government had for some time been battling with indiscriminate waste dumping in its metropolis, with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) assuring residents that current waste collection challenges across the state will ease in months.
LEADERSHIP checks revealed that the Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators who are licensed waste management companies appointed by LAWMA to do house to house household commercial waste collection across the state have intensified efforts in waste collection by deploying newly acquired waste compactors.
A LEADERSHIP visit to several parts of Lagos, including Oyingbo, Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2 have shown that waste collection has improved in the state.
Andrew Ajayi, a resident of Egbeda said, ‘’ Waste collection has improved in our area. Before now they were not coming to collect refuse. That is why people were patronizing cart pushers. But now they have started coming to our houses to collect refuse. That is why the bus stops and road median are now free of refuse. I hope the state government is able to sustain it.’’
It was gathered that the Lagos State government has received 10 new waste compactor trucks to strengthen waste collection and improve environmental sanitation across the state.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina said the compactor trucks were donated by the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority as part of efforts to support sustainable waste management.
In his address at the handover ceremony the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the donation as a demonstration of corporate social responsibility and inter-agency collaboration within the state government.
Wahab said the donation underscored the growing partnership among government institutions and stakeholders in tackling waste management challenges in Lagos, adding that Lagos, one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, generates more than 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, making continuous investment in infrastructure, technology and equipment imperative.
“Lagos remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, generating over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily.
“Managing this enormous volume of waste requires continuous investment in infrastructure, equipment, innovation and strategic partnerships.
“The donation reflects the strong synergy between ministries, departments, agencies and the private sector in addressing environmental challenges associated with rapid urbanisation and population growth in Lagos.”
The commissioner who listed several initiatives being implemented by the state government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and the Lagos Waste Management Authority to improve waste management services, added that the government had strengthened waste collection through Private Sector Participation operators, expanded recycling programmes.
Wahab said the state government has also deployed marine waste evacuation teams and invested in waste-to-wealth initiatives and modern technologies, adding that Lagos had moved beyond the traditional “collect-and-dump” model to a more sustainable zero-waste economy that treats waste as a resource.
