Lagos infrastructure faces strain from population growth and waste crisis

Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, is facing severe strain on its infrastructure due to rapid population growth and constant migration. The city’s economy, now the second largest in Africa, is struggling to keep pace with the demands of its residents, leading to significant pressure on the health, education, transportation, and housing sectors.

The health sector is particularly vulnerable, facing challenges from a national brain drain of medical professionals and an increasing number of patients. Simultaneously, the city is battling a mounting waste management crisis. Uncollected refuse has accumulated along major roads and drainage channels in areas such as Mushin, Oshodi, and Surulere, raising public health concerns regarding odors, flies, and rodents.

While previous administrations attempted various modernization initiatives, the current administration under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has focused on restoring the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and strengthening private sector participation and recycling efforts to address the refuse problem.