Sanwo-Olu orders immediate waste evacuation across Lagos

Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state following growing concerns over the accumulation of refuse in several areas.

The directive was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the governor’s special adviser on media and publicity, Gbenga Akosile, who acknowledged residents’ complaints and assured that efforts were underway to restore normal waste collection services.

According to the statement, relevant agencies and service providers have been mobilised to work round the clock to clear waste backlogs and improve sanitation across affected communities.

“The Lagos State Government acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the recent accumulation of refuse in some parts of the state and wishes to assure Lagosians that the situation is receiving the highest level of attention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the entire machinery of government.

“We are not oblivious to the inconveniences and concerns occasioned by the situation. Lagosians deserve a clean, healthy, and environmentally sustainable city, and this administration remains fully committed to delivering on that obligation,” the statement read.

Akosile noted that additional resources had been deployed to support waste evacuation efforts, alongside strategic interventions aimed at strengthening operational efficiency and improving waste collection and disposal.

He added that the governor had directed key agencies, including the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), to intensify their operations.

The government highlighted that Lagos generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, making it one of the highest waste-producing cities in Africa.

While describing the current situation as temporary, the state said substantial progress had already been recorded in some locations and promised further improvements in the coming days.

“We wish to reassure residents that this challenge is temporary. Indeed, substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations, and more improvements will become visible across the state in the days ahead,” Akosile added.

The government also urged residents, market associations, businesses, and community leaders to support sanitation efforts by disposing of waste properly and avoiding activities that obstruct drainage channels, roads, and designated waste collection points.

It reiterated its commitment to maintaining environmental standards and protecting public health across the state.