Lagos declares state of emergency on waste management

The Lagos State Government is intensifying efforts to address waste management and environmental sanitation. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared a state of emergency on waste management, treating the issue as a critical infrastructure challenge. The state's strategy includes expanding dumpsite capacity, increasing the number of waste trucks, opening more receiving locations, restructuring the Lagos Waste Management Authority, and strengthening enforcement.

To support these systemic changes, officials are calling for increased civic responsibility. Lagos State Head of Service Olabode Agoro has urged residents to adopt daily sanitation habits rather than waiting for government-led exercises. Agoro emphasized that individual cleanliness is essential to reducing sickness and airborne diseases.

At the Olusosun dumpsite, current operations handle between 220 and 250 trucks daily. The government aims to increase this capacity to between 350 and 450 trucks by expanding the number of available tipping points.