LAGOS/Nigeria: The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has begun consultations with private waste operators on proposed changes to the state’s waste collection system, with emphasis on service efficiency, financial sustainability and stronger accountability.
The discussions with the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) are expected to produce recommendations for improving the operation of the Private Sector Participation (PSP) scheme, which is central to household and commercial waste collection across Lagos.
The consultation, held at LAWMA’s headquarters in Ijora-Olopa, brought officials of the authority and representatives of waste management companies together to assess challenges within the sector and consider measures for improving service delivery.
The meeting was held under the theme, “Building a Sustainable, Accountable and High-Performance PSP Sector for a Cleaner Lagos.”
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the authority wanted the reform process to be developed in consultation with operators and other stakeholders.
He said such an approach would help ensure that the proposed changes reflected the realities of waste collection operations across the state.
“Our objective is to build a waste management system that is efficient, transparent, financially sustainable and responsive to the needs of Lagos residents,” Gbadegesin said.
He said PSP operators remained an important part of waste collection in Lagos and that meaningful changes would require cooperation between the authority and the operators.
Among the issues identified for consideration were performance-based regulation, route rationalisation, financial sustainability, compliance with payment arrangements and the renewal of waste collection fleets.Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN)
The stakeholders also considered technology-based monitoring of waste collection services, enforcement against illegal operators, landfill management, recycling and resource recovery.
Improving customer service and strengthening institutional governance were also listed among the areas to be addressed under the proposed reforms.
The meeting resolved to establish joint technical working groups made up of representatives of LAWMA and AWAMN to take the process forward.
The groups will examine the proposals from the consultation, identify the data required, consider implementation options and submit recommendations for consideration in the final reform framework.
AWAMN President, Dr Olugbenga Adebola, welcomed the engagement on behalf of private waste operators, saying it provided an opportunity for both sides to improve cooperation.
Adebola pledged the association’s cooperation with the consultation process and expressed confidence that the approach would lead to practical measures capable of improving waste collection and supporting the sustainability of operators in the sector.
According to LAWMA, the consultation is part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors in waste management.
The authority said further engagements with stakeholders would take place as work continues towards the development and implementation of the final reform roadmap.
