Lagos Residents Concerned Over Waste Management Chief's Exit

There is growing worry about the leadership of the Lagos Waste Management Authority. This follows reports that the state government has asked its Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign as heaps of refuse continue to pile up across the state.

PUNCH Online reported that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu requested Gbadegesin to step down due to the worsening waste management situation.

Sources say a new Managing Director was quickly appointed. But as of now, the Lagos State Government has not released an official statement about Gbadegesin’s removal or his replacement.

When we contacted the state Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, he claimed he was not aware of the development. He said, “I am not aware of the removal. I only saw it on your paper today. I have been busy attending meetings. You can call me tomorrow.”

A senior official from the Ministry of the Environment, who wished to remain anonymous, also told PUNCH Metro on Tuesday that he had no knowledge of Gbadegesin’s removal or replacement. He said, “Me, I don’t know o. Nothing is confirmed yet. I am sure an official statement will come from the ministry.”

Efforts to confirm the situation with LAWMA have not been successful. The agency’s Director of Publicity, Olabamiji Sanusi, did not answer calls or reply to messages sent to him by press time.

This news comes amid months of complaints from residents about the refuse piling up on major roads, residential streets, road medians, and drainage channels in Lagos. The waste management problem has affected communities like Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa, and Mile 2. Residents have had to deal with heaps of decomposing waste.

The situation has raised worries about environmental sanitation, public health, and how poor waste collection affects businesses and the state's image. An insider within LAWMA, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH Online that Governor Sanwo-Olu had become increasingly unhappy with how Gbadegesin was handling the waste crisis and suggested he resign.

The source explained that the governor’s dissatisfaction stemmed from the slow waste evacuation and Gbadegesin’s failure to act quickly on orders to resolve the issue. “The governor was at the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota a month ago and was dissatisfied with the state of things. He gave instructions that immediate action be taken on the matter, as he has declared a state of emergency on waste management.

“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, although he is begging and has reached out to some prominent Lagosians to beg on his behalf,” the source said.

In September, PUNCH Online reported that Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on waste collection after visiting the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota. He ordered that immediate steps be taken to deal with the problems affecting the sector.

The governor, along with his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, met with stakeholders in the waste management sector at the dumpsite. They assessed the challenges with municipal waste collection and outlined immediate, medium-, and long-term solutions.

Sanwo-Olu acknowledged that waste collection had been slow across the state, blaming it partly on Private Sector Participation operators not meeting their obligations in the weeks before.

Despite the government’s intervention, complaints about the refuse piling up in several communities have continued. In the meantime, Gbadegesin shared an update on waste management on his X handle last Saturday. He mentioned that the authority had stepped up clearance operations in some areas and added more trucks for collection.

He stated that Mile 2 had been cleared, and routine collection was ongoing. Three additional trucks were sent to Doyin-Orile and nearby areas. “Eleven of the 15 routes in this week’s programme now have field updates. Key outcomes include: Mile 2 cleared with routine collection sustained; three additional trucks deployed on Doyin-Orile; daily service maintained on Ijesha Road and Itire-Ikate; Bucknor-Ijegun cleared with three-times-weekly collection.

“Okeira and Oluodo are under LAWMA interim service following PSP termination; collection is sustained at Ogolonto and Igbokusu; Obalende has been cleared, provided with a bin and placed under surveillance; and clearance continues at Iraye,” he wrote.

Gbadegesin also noted that four routes, Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu-Ejigbo Road, and the Isheri-Igando corridor, were still waiting for field updates. “The objective is to progress from clearance to sustained collection and prevention of recurrence, not simply remove visible waste,” he stated.