Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has directed the Ministry of the Environment and relevant agencies to intensify waste evacuation efforts across the state in response to growing concerns over refuse accumulation.
He also instructed all relevant departments and service providers to operate round the clock to clear waste piled up on streets and in residential areas across the metropolis.
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is currently experiencing widespread waste buildup, with refuse visible along major roads and highways on both the mainland and the island.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Gboyega Akosile, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, said the government has acknowledged residents’ complaints over the situation.
According to him, the administration is giving the matter urgent attention, stressing that residents “deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city”.
“We are not oblivious to the inconveniences and concerns occasioned by the situation,” the statement reads.
“Lagosians deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable city, and this administration remains fully committed to delivering on that obligation.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu has consequently directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state, with relevant agencies and service providers working round the clock to clear backlogs and restore normalcy as quickly as possible.
“Additional resources have been deployed to support ongoing efforts, while strategic interventions are being implemented to strengthen operational efficiency and improve waste collection and disposal across affected areas.
“The Governor has directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and all other departments in that sector to double down on their efforts.”
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Akosile added that the waste situation is “temporary” and claimed that “substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations”.
He urged residents to remain calm and patient, noting that the government is pursuing a “comprehensive response” to the challenge.
The development comes after reports earlier in the year that several major roads in Lagos were covered in waste following the festive period, with some private sector participation (PSP) waste collectors allegedly abandoning their duties.
Since then, the situation has reportedly worsened, as some residents resorted to dumping refuse on road medians while accusing PSP operators of neglect.
In April, the Lagos State Government also reintroduced its monthly environmental sanitation exercise after a 10-year suspension, following a court ruling that led to its earlier discontinuation in 2016.