LAWMA
By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, Oct. 18, 2026 (NAN) The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has deployed 25 vans for emergency waste evacuation in Oshodi to handle refuse buildup and enhance environmental sanitation.
The Head of (*25*) Sector Participation (PSP) Services at LAWMA, Mr Tunde Suleiman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Suleiman spoke on the sidelines of the train at Bolade, a suburb of Oshodi.
He attributed the waste buildup to excessive inhabitants density, elevated waste era, insufficient waste containers and low tariffs paid by residents for assortment companies.
Suleiman mentioned Oshodi, which has greater than 350 streets, remained one of many native authorities areas with the bottom waste assortment tariffs in Lagos State.
According to him, residents nonetheless pay N750 per room, a fee he mentioned was now not commensurate with the operational prices of PSP operators.
He defined that some operators travelled lengthy distances to evacuate waste, making it troublesome to maintain environment friendly companies below the prevailing tariff construction.
“We need to look at the rates. The people are still holding on to the old rates, which are not commensurate with the operational costs of PSPs today,” he mentioned.
Suleiman mentioned LAWMA had engaged PSP operators, Community Development Associations (CDAs), native authorities representatives and anxious residents to handle the state of affairs.
He mentioned the quick precedence was to clear accrued refuse earlier than stakeholders resumed discussions on an applicable tariff construction.
The LAWMA official added that the state authorities was conducting a statewide tariff overview to handle the challenges confronting waste assortment companies.
He mentioned the emergency intervention would tackle residents’ quick considerations whereas broader discussions on the tariff construction continued.
Suleiman mentioned the deployment concerned 25 vans, supported by a working ground able to accommodating 4 vans at a time.
He famous that LAWMA had commenced related interventions in different elements of Oshodi, together with Folorunsho Street and Oluwole, off Oshodi Road.
He mentioned the train concerned collaboration with the native authorities, CDAs and residents involved in regards to the deteriorating waste state of affairs.
Suleiman pressured the necessity to make sure that non-public waste operators obtained ample remuneration to maintain their investments and supply efficient companies.
He mentioned LAWMA had a desk officer on the native authorities secretariat to obtain and channel complaints appropriately.
He added that a number of PSP operators serving the world, together with Excellence, Tunap, Buckler Enterprises and Pepet, had places of work residents might contact over waste assortment challenges.
Suleiman recognized insufficient waste containerisation as one other main issue contributing to refuse accumulation in Oshodi.
He cited a residential constructing with about 16 flats however solely two bins, saying the containers had been inadequate for the amount of waste generated.
According to him, insufficient containers trigger refuse to overflow shortly after assortment, leaving streets and surrounding areas ugly.
He mentioned LAWMA was selling an “Adopt-a-Bin” initiative to encourage households to offer containers appropriate for his or her inhabitants and waste era ranges.
Suleiman additionally urged residents to embrace waste sorting and recycling, significantly of plastic bottles, cans and paper, to scale back the amount of refuse requiring evacuation.
He defined that registered recyclers might buy recyclable supplies from residents, probably serving to households offset a part of their waste administration bills.
He added that LAWMA was implementing an incentivisation scheme via its Oshodi plant to encourage recycling.
Suleiman mentioned Oshodi was beforehand thought to be one of many cleanest native authorities areas however had confronted challenges from altering settlement patterns and inhabitants development.
He defined that changing older bungalows into multi-storey buildings had elevated inhabitants density, making it mandatory to offer ample waste administration infrastructure alongside city growth.
On the frequency of emergency waste evacuation workout routines throughout Lagos, Suleiman mentioned such interventions weren’t meant to turn out to be routine however had been mandatory when critical waste administration challenges arose.
He mentioned LAWMA assessed the causes of waste accumulation earlier than intervening and deployed advocacy groups to sensitise residents on correct waste disposal practices.
According to him, sustained public consciousness, improved compliance and ample waste containerisation would assist stop repeated emergency interventions.
He urged residents to cooperate with LAWMA and PSP operators by paying applicable waste assortment expenses, offering ample bins and adopting accountable waste administration practices. (NAN)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
