The Lagos State Government has intensified its efforts to improve waste management across the state with the acquisition of more than 200 compactor trucks and renewed measures to curb indiscriminate refuse disposal.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise held in FESTAC, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
Wahab said the newly acquired trucks would strengthen waste evacuation and improve the efficiency and reliability of refuse collection across Lagos.
He said the state government was also addressing challenges at landfills, dumpsites and major waste collection points while engaging Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to improve service delivery.
According to the commissioner, the effectiveness of the waste management system also depends on residents’ willingness to pay for collection services, which he said is closely linked to the quality and reliability of services provided.
Wahab, however, urged residents to stop patronising unregulated cart pushers, warning that their activities could encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads, medians and drainage channels.
He said improper waste disposal could obstruct drainage systems and contribute to flooding, stressing that maintaining a clean environment required cooperation between the government and residents.
“Government will continue to provide the leadership, infrastructure and regulation needed, but residents must also take responsibility by properly disposing of their waste and keeping their surroundings clean — not only on sanitation days, but every day,” Wahab said.
The commissioner said the government’s interventions were aimed at creating a more effective waste management system capable of meeting the needs of residents and businesses across the state.
Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, his wife, Oluremi Hamzat, and other stakeholders participated in the sanitation exercise.
The state government called on residents to use approved waste collection channels and support efforts to maintain a cleaner and healthier Lagos.
