Refuse heaps undermine sanitation exercise, Lagos residents lament

Residents of Alimosho area of Lagos State on Saturday expressed frustration over months of uncollected refuse, saying the situation was undermining the objectives of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

The residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria across Akiwowo, Apatira and Alaguntan areas, said they remained committed to keeping their surroundings clean but urged authorities to ensure prompt evacuation of waste.

NAN reports that Lagos State resumed its monthly environmental sanitation exercise on April 25, 2026, after a nearly 10-year break.

The exercise holds from 6.30am to 8.30am on the last Saturday of every month, with restriction of movement during the period.

A resident of Apatira Street, Mr Shola Aboro, said residents had continued to comply with the sanitation directive in spite of challenges with waste evacuation.

“I have done my part of the sanitation this morning and hope to continue in order to keep my environment clean.

“However, it is quite discouraging to see the refuse we have cleared return to the gutters because the PSP trucks have refused to come pick them.

“For this environmental sanitation to be sustainable, the state government has to do their part in ensuring that our wastes are picked on time,” Aboro said.

Another resident, who identified herself as Mummy Daniel, said she might stop participating in the exercise if refuse around her residence remained uncleared.

“It will be futile if all we do monthly is to clear our environment and the refuse is not cleared out by the agency responsible for it.

“It is so discouraging to pay for the PSP services monthly and for the past four months our garbage has not been moved.

“The essence of the sanitation will be ultimately defeated if the waste cleared are not cleared out when as at when due,” she said.

NAN observed that some residents engaged in exercise and morning walks during the stipulated sanitation period, while the vehicular movement appeared higher than in previous months.

A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Ambrose Udeh, said he participated in the exercise before heading out to earn a living.

“I have done my own sanitation exercise this morning but I need to feed my family, so I must come out to work.

“I believe if we do our part and the government does its own part, our state will be clean,” Udeh said.

Also speaking, Mr Nose Omorodion of Cash Street said persistent refuse heaps had discouraged him from taking part in the exercise.

“The environment is dirty, everywhere you turn there is a pile of dirt, so what are we coming to clean?

“We have been promised that our refuse will be cleared when we clean our environment but for how long?

“We just hope that the dirt will not drown us,” Omorodion said.

Surulere residents lament

Some residents of Surulere, Lagos State, on Saturday expressed concern over weeks-old refuse heaps that remained uncollected, saying the situation undermined the objectives of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that although many residents swept their surroundings and cleared drainages during the exercise, heaps of refuse were still seen at designated collection points across the area.

The residents said the lingering waste had become a public health concern, particularly with the ongoing rains, which had worsened flooding and produced offensive odour.

Areas monitored by NAN included Masha, Lawanson, Kilo and Ogunlana, where residents participated in the sanitation exercise by cleaning their surroundings.

NAN reports that commercial activities were low as residents complied with the movement restriction imposed by the Lagos State Government between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

Mrs Bose Akinyemi, a resident of Masha, told NAN that some refuse dumps had remained unattended for weeks in spite of repeated complaints.

“We have done our part by cleaning our surroundings, but the refuse is still here.

“Once the rain falls, the waste spreads into the gutters, blocks drainage channels and makes the environment unhealthy,” she said.

Also speaking, Mr Adewale Baruwa of Lawanson said stagnant water around refuse heaps had led to an increase in mosquitoes invading homes.

“The mosquitoes are everywhere now because of the rains and the refuse. It is becoming difficult to keep them out of our houses.

“We are worried about the health implications, especially for children,” he said.

Mrs Funke Sulaimon, a resident of Kilo, said many households had resorted to paying cart pushers to evacuate their waste because PSP trucks were no longer coming regularly.

“People cannot continue to keep refuse at home for weeks.

“Many residents now pay cart pushers to take the waste away because we have no choice,” she said.

Mr Waidi Kareem, a resident of Ogunlana, urged the Lagos State Government and the Lagos Waste Management Authority to improve the frequency of waste evacuation.

According to him, regular refuse collection will complement the objectives of the sanitation exercise and help prevent flooding and disease outbreaks during the rainy season.

NAN observed officials of the Kick Against Indiscipline monitoring compliance with the movement restriction, while residents cleaned roads, drains and open spaces.

The Lagos State Government recently reintroduced the monthly environmental sanitation to improve environmental hygiene and restore the sanitation culture across the state. (NAN)