Residents across Lagos State have expressed growing concern over the worsening waste management situation in the metropolis, warning that the accumulation of refuse in communities and along major roads could trigger a public health crisis if urgent action is not taken.
Many residents who spoke on the development said they are increasingly overwhelmed by the offensive odour emanating from heaps of refuse left unattended on streets, highways and public spaces across the state.
The waste challenge has become visible across several parts of Lagos, including Mushin, Araromi, Agege, Ajah, Oshodi, Ajegunle, Iyana Ipaja, Abule Egba, Lekki, Okota and other communities, where roadsides, markets, bus stops and even bridges have gradually turned into informal dumpsites.
Beyond the unpleasant sight and smell, residents fear the growing environmental and health implications of uncollected waste. They warned that blocked drainage channels, flooding and the proliferation of disease-carrying pests could worsen living conditions, particularly during the ongoing rainy season.
Several households also complained that overflowing waste bins have remained uncleared for weeks, blaming the situation on inefficiencies among Private Sector Participants (PSPs) responsible for waste collection under the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
Residents further raised concerns over illegal dumping in unauthorised locations and what they described as inadequate service delivery by some licensed operators.
A Surulere resident, identified simply as Olamide, said the PSP assigned to his area had not collected waste for three weeks despite collecting N10,000 monthly from three flats within the compound.
According to him, the operator attributed the delay to operational challenges at the Olusosun dumpsite, where persistent rainfall has reportedly worsened conditions and increased turnaround time for waste disposal trucks. He said some trucks now spend up to four days before they are able to discharge waste.
Investigations also revealed that several PSP operators are seeking an upward review of waste collection fees to cope with rising operational costs, including vehicle maintenance, diesel and spare parts.
A resident of Mushin, Mike Udom, alleged that Bauhbon Environmental Services, one of the licensed PSP operators in the area, had failed to provide services despite receiving payments from residents.
He claimed that in several parts of Mushin Local Government Area where the company operates, refuse bins meant to be evacuated weekly had been cleared only three times within the last 12 weeks.
Udom added that recent rainfall has further worsened the situation, with waste clogging drainage systems, spilling onto roads and creating serious environmental hazards.
At locations including the Iyana Isolo Under Bridge, sections of the Apapa-Oshodi and Oshodi-Apapa expressways, Ikotun, Ilasa, Mushin Market and Ketu, large piles of refuse now occupy portions of roads and public spaces.
Plastic bottles, nylon materials and other waste products are increasingly visible across the city, highlighting the pressure facing Lagos’ waste management system as the population continues to expand.
Responding to concerns, LAWMA released its May 2026 operational performance report, outlining measures being taken to improve waste evacuation, environmental sanitation and service delivery across the state.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the authority remains committed to improving operational efficiency and addressing challenges affecting waste collection and disposal.
According to him, LAWMA and its network of licensed PSP operators evacuated a total of 418,500 tonnes of waste across Lagos in May, representing an average daily evacuation of 13,200 tonnes.
He disclosed that 442 PSP operators are currently active across the state, while 27 waste collection routes are undergoing review as part of efforts to optimise coverage and improve operational efficiency.
Gbadegesin also stated that the authority cleared 173 waste black spots during the month, covering road medians, markets, bus stops and other locations affected by indiscriminate dumping.
He explained that LAWMA continued to strengthen customer engagement mechanisms, receiving 474 complaints and service requests during the reporting period while working to improve response times and service quality.
According to him, the authority currently deploys 77 compactor trucks, five skip trucks and 12 additional operational equipment units to support waste evacuation and sanitation activities statewide.
He noted that ongoing reforms include route restructuring, enhanced monitoring of PSP operators, infrastructure upgrades, equipment deployment and sustained enforcement against environmental violations.
Gbadegesin stressed that Lagos operates one of the largest urban waste management systems in Africa, requiring continuous investment, infrastructure expansion, enforcement and collaboration among stakeholders to meet the demands of its rapidly growing population.
He acknowledged that persistent rainfall and increased waste evacuation activities have placed significant pressure on disposal infrastructure, affecting truck movement, turnaround time and overall efficiency at landfill and disposal sites.
The situation, he said, has also affected logistics for PSP operators and sanitation personnel working under difficult weather conditions to sustain waste management operations.
Gbadegesin added that LAWMA is engaging stakeholders and implementing measures to improve access to disposal facilities, stabilise operations and reduce pressure on critical waste infrastructure during the rainy season.
He urged residents to support sanitation efforts by reducing waste generation, properly bagging refuse and embracing waste segregation practices that encourage recycling and resource recovery.
The LAWMA boss assured residents that the authority remains committed to strengthening environmental sanitation through collaboration with PSP operators, operational reforms, infrastructure improvements and strategic interventions designed to improve the resilience of the waste management system.
Providing further perspective on the issue, environmentalist and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Brightest Hope Group, Dr. Omowunmi Olatunji, said LAWMA has demonstrated considerable capacity and commitment over the years but is increasingly challenged by the scale of waste generation in Lagos.
“Lagos, with an estimated population exceeding 20 million people, generates thousands of tonnes of waste daily. This rapid urbanisation places enormous pressure on existing waste management infrastructure.
“Challenges include insufficient waste collection coverage in some densely populated communities, inadequate waste segregation at source, illegal dumping and non-compliance by residents and businesses, ageing infrastructure and operational constraints, as well as rapid population growth outpacing service expansion.
“While LAWMA possesses substantial institutional capacity, it cannot effectively manage Lagos’ waste burden alone. Sustainable waste management requires active collaboration among government agencies, local governments, private operators, industries, communities and residents.
“To achieve a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos, the government should move beyond conventional waste collection and embrace an integrated waste management system.”
Olatunji recommended making waste segregation at source mandatory through the provision of colour-coded bins and stronger enforcement measures backed by incentives and penalties.
She also advocated increased investment in waste-to-wealth infrastructure, including recycling facilities, composting plants and waste-to-energy projects, while encouraging circular economy initiatives that transform waste into valuable economic resources.
The growing waste burden has once again highlighted the environmental challenges facing Lagos, Africa’s most populous city, where rapid urbanisation, population growth and infrastructure pressures continue to test the capacity of public services and environmental management systems.
