Lagos Declares War on Roadside Waste, Unveils ‘Waste Police’

Lagos Declares War on Roadside Waste, Unveils ‘Waste Police’ 

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to tackle indiscriminate waste disposal across the metropolis, declaring zero tolerance for waste dumping on roads and announcing plans to establish a special “Waste Police” made up of transport union members to monitor compliance.

The move forms part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive for the emergency evacuation of waste on Lagos roads and the broader drive to improve environmental sanitation across the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Saturday at Alausa, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, inaugurated a Special Task Force to monitor roads, bus stops, garages and lay-bys against illegal waste disposal.

He also charged members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria to serve as environmental watchdogs in their respective areas of operation.

Osiyemi described the meeting as a call for stronger collaboration between government agencies and transport unions in addressing environmental challenges.

“Our beautiful city is being challenged by indiscriminate refuse disposal and environmental abuse. We cannot fold our arms while people carry waste from their homes and dump it on roads, medians and public spaces. This is totally unacceptable,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that while the government would continue to enforce environmental laws, the support of transport unions remained crucial because of their extensive presence across the state.

He directed transport operators to ensure that parks and garages under their control are kept clean at all times and to discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal within their operational areas.

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Osiyemi further disclosed that the planned Waste Police would be constituted from members of NURTW and RTEAN across all local government areas to monitor motor parks and adjoining communities and prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

He added that the Ministry of Transportation would commence enforcement activities to ensure proper maintenance of motor parks and garages as well as compliance with waste disposal regulations.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Sam Egube, noted that road transport operators in many parts of the world partner with governments to protect and monitor transport infrastructure.

He urged stakeholders to support the campaign against improper waste disposal.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, called on the transport unions to take full responsibility as partners in waste management by ensuring compliance at parks and garages across the state.

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, commended the unions for supporting the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise and urged them to sustain the collaboration.

According to him, effective waste management requires collective responsibility, noting that LAWMA alone cannot address the challenge.

Gbadegesin revealed that LAWMA evacuates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily across Lagos, while transport unions facilitate the movement of an estimated 22 million commuters every day.

He said the vast network of transport workers across the state would significantly enhance efforts to promote proper waste disposal practices, monitor public spaces and report environmental violations for prompt action.

The meeting was attended by directors from the Ministry of Transportation and LAWMA, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transportation and Logistics, Hon. Hassan Adekoya, representatives of LAWMA Enforcement, and leaders of NURTW and RTEAN.

 

Lagos Declares War on Roadside Waste, Unveils ‘Waste Police’