Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reportedly asked the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign over the persistent accumulation of refuse across the metropolis.
Reports quoting an insider at the agency said the governor is dissatisfied with Gbadegesin’s handling of the waste crisis, and has asked him to step down.
The source said Sanwo-Olu’s decision followed the failure of waste evacuation efforts to produce the desired results despite the governor’s directives for urgent intervention.
According to the report, the governor became particularly displeased after inspecting the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago and subsequently ordering immediate measures to address the crisis.
“The governor was upset when he observed that the situation had not improved despite his clear directive. So, over the weekend, he asked him to resign,” the source said, adding that Gbadegesin has been reaching out to prominent Lagosians to appeal against the decision.
The reported move comes amid months of complaints by residents over mounting refuse on roads, medians, residential streets and drainage channels across Lagos.
Communities in Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2 have reportedly been affected, raising concerns about environmental sanitation, public health and the impact on businesses and the State’s image.
In September, Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on waste collection following an inspection of the Olusosun dumpsite, where he acknowledged the slow pace of refuse evacuation.
The governor, accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, subsequently met with stakeholders in the waste management sector to assess the challenges and outline immediate, medium- and long-term interventions.
Sanwo-Olu attributed part of the problem to the failure of Private Sector Participation operators to meet their obligations in the preceding weeks.
He also cited fires at dumpsites as a factor slowing operations, while noting that waste compaction at Olusosun and Solous 3 was expected to improve disposal capacity.
According to the governor, completing the projects would enable the dumpsites to receive about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the capacity of PSP operators.
However, the continued presence of refuse in several communities has raised questions about the effectiveness of the interventions.
In a weekly update posted on his X account on Saturday, Gbadegesin said clearance operations had recorded progress on several routes, including Mile 2, where routine collection had resumed.
He said three additional trucks had been deployed to Doyin-Orile and its environs, while collection continued on Ijesha Road and in Itire-Ikate. Bucknor-Ijegun had also been cleared, with collection scheduled three times weekly.
The LAWMA chief added that the agency has taken over interim waste collection in Okeira and Oluodo following the termination of their PSP arrangements. He also reported progress in Ogolonto, Igbokusu and Obalende, while clearance continued at Iraye.
However, he said field updates are still outstanding for Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu-Ejigbo Road and the Isheri-Igando corridor.
Gbadegesin said the objective is to move beyond clearing visible refuse to ensuring sustained collection and preventing its recurrence.
Gbadegesin was reappointed as LAWMA managing director by Sanwo-Olu following the governor’s re-election.
- Media Report