Lagos moves to improve waste disposal, unveils new road, platforms

Lagos moves to improve waste disposal, unveils new road, platforms 

 

The Lagos State Government has intensified efforts to tackle waste disposal challenges by commissioning a rehabilitated internal road and newly constructed disposal platforms at the Olusosun Disposal Facility, a move expected to accelerate waste evacuation and improve sanitation across the state.

The infrastructure, inaugurated on Tuesday through the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), is designed to eliminate operational bottlenecks, improve access within the facility and reduce delays experienced by waste collection trucks, particularly during the rainy season.

Speaking at the commissioning, LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the project as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening the state’s waste management system and enhancing operational efficiency at one of Lagos’ busiest disposal facilities.

He explained that the rehabilitation of Road E became necessary after heavy rainfall damaged parts of the route, making it difficult for compactor trucks conveying municipal waste from different parts of the state to access the dumpsite.

According to him, the upgraded road, alongside the newly built disposal platforms, will enable more trucks to offload waste simultaneously, reduce turnaround time and improve the overall flow of waste evacuation operations.

“This project represents another important milestone in our commitment to building a more efficient and resilient waste management system for Lagos. By improving access to the disposal facility and expanding operational capacity, we are addressing immediate challenges while laying the foundation for long-term improvements in waste evacuation across the state,” Gbadegesin said.

The LAWMA boss noted that the intervention reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to strengthening critical waste management infrastructure through strategic partnerships with the private sector.

He commended Zoomlion Nigeria Limited for rehabilitating the road as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, adding that the relationship between the company and LAWMA had grown beyond CSR into a broader technical collaboration focused on improving waste infrastructure across Lagos.

Gbadegesin disclosed that Zoomlion is also constructing modern Transfer Loading Stations at Olusosun and Solous III, each with the capacity to process about 2,500 metric tonnes of waste daily.

He added that the state government is simultaneously investing in Material Recovery Facilities, waste-to-energy plants, biogas projects and the planned acquisition of additional compactor trucks over the next three years to expand waste evacuation capacity and improve service delivery.

According to him, Olusosun currently receives about half of the municipal solid waste generated daily in Lagos, making sustained investment in critical infrastructure essential as the state gradually transitions to a more integrated and environmentally sustainable waste management system.

Gbadegesin also reaffirmed that the planned decommissioning of the Olusosun Disposal Facility would be implemented in phases after adequate alternative infrastructure had been put in place to ensure uninterrupted waste management services.

He urged residents to support government efforts by using assigned Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, paying waste collection bills promptly and avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

 

Managing Director of Zoomlion Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Habiba Abubakar, said the project was completed in just 26 days, ahead of schedule, describing it as the first phase of a wider partnership with LAWMA to improve waste collection, transfer and disposal infrastructure across Lagos.

 

Also speaking, President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, praised the Lagos State Government, LAWMA and Zoomlion for the initiative.

He said improved access to disposal facilities would ease operational challenges faced by PSP operators, reduce waiting time for compactor trucks and significantly enhance waste evacuation across the state.

Adebola expressed confidence that ongoing investments in Transfer Loading Stations and other waste management infrastructure would further strengthen Lagos’ environmental management system and support LAWMA’s long-term reform agenda.