Sanwo-Olu orders immediate cleanup as refuse piles up in 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 Lagos State Government, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, acknowledged the concerns of residents and assured Lagosians that efforts were underway to address the situation.

The government said the issue had received the highest level of attention from Governor Sanwo-Olu and relevant authorities, stressing that residents deserve a clean, healthy and environmentally sustainable environment.

According to the statement, the governor directed all relevant agencies and service providers to intensify waste evacuation activities and work round the clock to clear the backlog of refuse and restore normal sanitation across affected communities.

The statement noted that additional resources had been deployed to support ongoing operations, while strategic measures were being introduced to improve efficiency in waste collection and disposal.

It added that the governor specifically instructed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA,the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, and other agencies within the environmental sector to strengthen their efforts.

The government explained that Lagos, as a rapidly expanding megacity, generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, one of the highest figures on the African continent.

While acknowledging that operational challenges may occasionally arise within such a large and complex system, the state government maintained that it possesses the capacity and determination to tackle the situation effectively.

The statement assured residents that the challenge was temporary, noting that significant progress had already been recorded in several locations across the state.

“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,” the statement said.  

The government further stated that the Sanwo-Olu administration had continued to invest heavily in environmental sustainability, waste management infrastructure and urban renewal projects aimed at building a cleaner and safer Lagos.

It appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with authorities, insisting that the current situation would not be allowed to persist.

“This is not a situation that will be allowed to linger. The Government is firmly on top of it and is pursuing a comprehensive response designed not only to clear the current accumulation but also to reinforce the long-term resilience of the state’s waste management architecture,” the statement added.

The state government also urged residents, community leaders, market associations and business owners to support sanitation efforts by disposing of waste responsibly and avoiding practices that obstruct drainage systems, roads and designated waste collection points.

Reaffirming its commitment to environmental protection and public health, the government assured residents that it would continue to take necessary steps to maintain clean and safe communities across Lagos.

“A cleaner Lagos is not merely an aspiration; it is a commitment we will continue to deliver,” the statement noted.

Sanwo-Olu orders immediate cleanup as refuse piles up in Lagos