Lagos Governor asks LAWMA head to resign over waste crisis

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly requested the resignation of Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). The move follows a persistent waste management crisis characterized by accumulating refuse on roads, in residential areas, and within drainage channels across the metropolis.

The governor’s dissatisfaction reportedly stems from a lack of improvement following a visit to the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota last month, where he had issued directives for urgent action. Residents in various areas, including Mushin, Surulere, and Apapa, have complained about delays in waste collection by private sector participants (PSPs), leading to sanitation and public health concerns.

Part of the crisis has been attributed to operational difficulties at major disposal facilities like the Olusosun dumpsite, where waste collection operators face long queues and damaged access roads. In September, Governor Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency regarding waste management to address these systemic challenges.