The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says strong inter-agency coordination, early planning, and widespread public participation were key to the success of the recent statewide environmental sanitation exercise.
The Managing Director of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Monday in Lagos.
Gbadegesin said seamless collaboration among LAWMA teams, Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, local governments, and enforcement agencies ensured effective coverage across the state.
He noted that advance operational planning, including the strategic deployment of trucks, equipment, and personnel, enabled a smooth and efficient exercise.
Gbadegesin added that disposal infrastructure, including landfill sites and Transfer Loading Stations (TLS), was optimised ahead of the exercise to ensure seamless waste reception and quick turnaround.
According to him, intensive sensitisation campaigns boosted public compliance, while the active involvement of Local Government Areas (LGAs), Local Council Development Areas, and community leaders ensured grassroots participation.
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He said targeted interventions at blackspots, markets, highways, and inner communities contributed to visible environmental improvements, supported by real-time monitoring and field coordination.
Responding to claims of non-evacuation of waste in some areas, the LAWMA boss described such reports as misleading and not reflective of the actual situation on the ground.
He explained that waste evacuation is a structured process carried out in phases, given the large volume of waste generated during the exercise.
“Evacuation is not instantaneous but follows a coordinated operational schedule,” he said.
He added that PSP operators commenced evacuation immediately after the exercise across all jurisdictions.
Gbadegesin said the prepared disposal chain, supported by optimised landfill sites and TLS, was ensuring systematic and regulated waste processing.
The authority emphasised that it prioritises safe and proper disposal at approved facilities over rushed or indiscriminate clearance.
He said field reports across LGAs confirmed that evacuation was ongoing, with continuous monitoring and intervention being carried out to support PSP operations where necessary.
Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to sustaining the gains of the sanitation exercise through continued evacuation, enforcement, and public engagement.
The Managing Director urged residents to support ongoing efforts by adhering to proper waste disposal practices.
