LAGOS/Nigeria: Stakeholders in Nigeria’s environmental sector have called for stronger collaboration, strict policy enforcement and increased public participation to tackle mounting waste management challenges in Lagos State.
The call was made on Wednesday at the annual conference of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) in Lagos, where industry players warned that the state’s waste crisis requires urgent, coordinated action.
In her welcome address, PEWAN Chairman, Mrs. Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, stressed the need for improved funding, effective monitoring and grassroots involvement in waste reduction efforts, noting that sustainable outcomes can only be achieved through inclusive participation.
She highlighted the importance of partnerships between government, private sector operators and local communities in enhancing waste management systems and improving residents’ quality of life.
The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said waste management remains a shared responsibility among government, service providers and the public.
Represented by the Executive Director, Finance, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, Gbadegesin noted that over 450 Private Sector Participant (PSP) operators are currently engaged in household waste collection across the state under LAWMA’s regulatory framework.
He, however, lamented that indiscriminate waste disposal and the activities of illegal cart pushers continue to undermine government efforts, contributing significantly to environmental degradation and flooding.
Gbadegesin disclosed that the state is intensifying efforts in waste sorting, recycling and resource recovery to improve operational efficiency while unlocking economic value within the sector.
Also speaking, President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, underscored the need for sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration, describing waste management as a collective responsibility with direct implications for public health and environmental safety.
He warned that poor waste disposal practices contribute to the spread of diseases such as malaria, cholera and Lassa fever, often triggered by blocked drainage systems, pest infestations and environmental pollution.
Adebola further cautioned against open burning of waste, noting that it releases toxic and carcinogenic substances capable of causing respiratory illnesses and cancer.
He also drew attention to the growing threat of plastic pollution, explaining that mismanaged plastics degrade into microplastics that contaminate water bodies and infiltrate the food chain.
According to him, Lagos currently generates over 20,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, a figure driven by rapid urbanisation and population growth, thereby placing immense pressure on existing waste management infrastructure.
He identified major challenges in the sector to include inadequate infrastructure, weak policy implementation, poor waste segregation practices and limited funding, adding that inefficient landfill systems and the absence of functional material recovery facilities further compound the problem.
Adebola called for increased investment in modern waste infrastructure, including recycling systems and material recovery facilities, while advocating the formal integration of informal waste collectors into the system to enhance efficiency and inclusiveness.
He also urged government to provide enabling policies and long-term financing frameworks capable of attracting private sector investment into the waste management value chain.
Stakeholders at the conference expressed optimism that deliberations at the forum would contribute to shaping policies and strategies aimed at achieving a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos, while calling for sustained engagement among key actors to address the state’s environmental challenges.
