By Fabian Ekeruche
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has deployed 25 trucks for emergency waste evacuation in Oshodi to address refuse buildup and improve environmental sanitation.
The Head of Private 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 exercise at Bolade, a suburb of Oshodi.
He attributed the waste buildup to high population density, increased waste generation, inadequate waste containers and low tariffs paid by residents for collection services.
Suleiman said Oshodi, which has more than 350 streets, remained one of the local government areas with the lowest waste collection tariffs in Lagos State.
According to him, residents still pay N750 per room, a rate he said was no longer commensurate with the operational costs of PSP operators.
He explained that some operators travelled long distances to evacuate waste, making it difficult to sustain efficient services under the existing tariff structure.
“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 said.
Suleiman said LAWMA had engaged PSP operators, Community Development Associations (CDAs), local government representatives and concerned residents to address the situation.
He said the immediate priority was to clear accumulated refuse before stakeholders resumed discussions on an appropriate tariff structure.
The LAWMA official added that the state government was conducting a statewide tariff review to address the challenges confronting waste collection services.
He said the emergency intervention would address residents’ immediate concerns while broader discussions on the tariff structure continued.
Suleiman said the deployment involved 25 trucks, supported by a working floor capable of accommodating four trucks at a time.
He noted that LAWMA had commenced similar interventions in other parts of Oshodi, including Folorunsho Street and Oluwole, off Oshodi Road.
He said the exercise involved collaboration with the local government, CDAs and residents concerned about the deteriorating waste situation.
Suleiman stressed the need to ensure that private waste operators received adequate remuneration to sustain their investments and provide effective services.
He said LAWMA had a desk officer at the local government secretariat to receive and channel complaints appropriately.
He added that several PSP operators serving the area, including Excellence, Tunap, Buckler Enterprises and Pepet, had offices residents could contact over waste collection challenges.
Suleiman identified inadequate waste containerisation as another major factor contributing to refuse accumulation in Oshodi.
He cited a residential building with about 16 flats but only two bins, saying the containers were insufficient for the volume of waste generated.
According to him, inadequate containers cause refuse to overflow shortly after collection, leaving streets and surrounding areas unsightly.
He said LAWMA was promoting an “Adopt-a-Bin” initiative to encourage households to provide containers suitable for their population and waste generation levels.
Suleiman also urged residents to embrace waste sorting and recycling, particularly of plastic bottles, cans and paper, to reduce the volume of refuse requiring evacuation.
He explained that registered recyclers could purchase recyclable materials from residents, potentially helping households offset part of their waste management expenses.
He added that LAWMA was implementing an incentivisation scheme through its Oshodi plant to encourage recycling.
Suleiman said Oshodi was previously regarded as one of the cleanest local government areas but had faced challenges from changing settlement patterns and population growth.
He explained that converting older bungalows into multi-storey buildings had increased population density, making it necessary to provide adequate waste management infrastructure alongside urban development.
On the frequency of emergency waste evacuation exercises across Lagos, Suleiman said such interventions were not intended to become routine but were necessary when serious waste management challenges arose.
He said LAWMA assessed the causes of waste accumulation before intervening and deployed advocacy teams to sensitise residents on proper waste disposal practices.
According to him, sustained public awareness, improved compliance and adequate waste containerisation would help prevent repeated emergency interventions.
He urged residents to cooperate with LAWMA and PSP operators by paying appropriate waste collection charges, providing adequate bins and adopting responsible waste management practices.
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
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