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.

2027 Hajj: NAHCON Sets N5m Minimum Deposit, Opens Registration for 2028-2030 Seasons

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has called on intending pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj to make an initial minimum deposit of N5 million, while also announcing the commencement of advance deposits for the 2028, 2029 and 2030 Hajj seasons. In a statement, NAHCON explained that the early deposit initiative offers intending pilgrims the opportunity to secure their place for the 2027 Hajj exercise and ease the financial burden through advance and phased payments. It also enables the Commission and State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards to undertake timely and efficient arrangements for accommodation, catering, transportation, and Masha’ir services in Makkah, Madinah and the Holy Sites. “Interested persons are therefore encouraged to begin saving towards their pilgrimage through their respective State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, Agencies or Commissions, or any approved Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) participating banks,” the Commission stated. The advance deposit initiative, it added, is designed to enable prospective pilgrims to spread the financial cost of Hajj over time, while also enhancing the Commission’s and the state boards’ ability to undertake early planning, secure quality services, and ensure efficient Hajj operations.

NAHCON has strengthened its Hajj Savings Scheme (HSS) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with four financial institutions: The Alternative Bank, Jaiz Bank, Lotus Bank, and TAJ Bank. Under the partnership, the banks are mandated to launch user-friendly pilgrims’ registration portals and manage HSS funds strictly in line with Islamic finance principles. Each bank is expected to develop a comprehensive implementation roadmap designed to ensure transparency, protect pilgrims’ interests, and expand nationwide access to the scheme.

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The Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards in Kwara and Taraba states have urged intending pilgrims to complete their fare payments and documentation before September 26, 2026, the deadline set by NAHCON and Saudi authorities. The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Abdulsalam Abdulkadir, warned that delays in payment or documentation could affect visa processing and prevent intending pilgrims from participating in next year’s pilgrimage. He recalled that in previous Hajj exercises, some pilgrims failed to meet the requirements on time, resulting in visa delays, while others had to seek refunds after missing the deadline. In Taraba State, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Usman Tanko, said intending pilgrims are required to make an initial deposit of N7 million, while the board has concluded plans for a statewide sensitisation campaign to educate prospective pilgrims on the new policies and guidelines introduced by the Saudi authorities. Tanko urged intending pilgrims to pay early to enable the board to meet the deadline and avoid disappointment. He noted that 714 pilgrims from Taraba State successfully performed the 2026 Hajj, although one pilgrim died and another lost a hand in an auto crash before departure.

Other states have also announced their payment guidelines. The Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has set December 1, 2026 as the deadline for completing payments and documentation for the 2027 Hajj. Governor Nasir Idris approved an initial deposit of N5 million, while those able to do so could pay the full fare of N7 million. In Lagos State, intending pilgrims are required to pay an initial deposit of N7 million, with the application form costing N20,000. The deadline for the initial deposit is September 2026.

2027 Hajj: NAHCON Sets N5m Minimum Deposit, Opens Registration for 2028-2030 Seasons

Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has alleged that the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, in retaliation for laughing when the police chief was booed at a public event. The accusation deepens the controversy surrounding the SSG’s detention, which has sparked a heated political backlash ahead of the August 15 governorship election. The Speaker’s account directly contradicts the official narrative from the Osun State Police Command, which has maintained that the raid and arrests were based on credible intelligence concerning suspected electoral offences and criminal activity.

According to Egbedun, he was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting alongside the Deputy Governor and the SSG when the incident began. He claimed that during the meeting, members of the public booed Commissioner Gotan while he was on the podium, and upon returning to his seat, the police chief noticed Igbalaye laughing at the situation. “We all witnessed the unfortunate moment when Commissioner Gotan was booed while on the podium by citizens of Osun State. Immediately he returned to his seat, he looked directly towards us. At that moment, the SSG laughed,” Egbedun stated. The Speaker said he became suspicious after watching Gotan reach for his phone and make several calls. “The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls. From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,'” he alleged. According to Egbedun, his prediction was confirmed within minutes when Igbalaye received a call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence. “A few minutes later, the SSG received a telephone call informing him that police officers were waiting for him at his residence. He immediately stood up and left the event, leaving the Deputy Governor and me behind,” the Speaker said.

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The Osun State Police Command has presented a markedly different version of events. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said operatives acted on intelligence reports that a criminal gang was operating from a location in Osogbo, leading to the raid on the SSG’s residence in the Oroki Estate area. Police said they recovered significant exhibits during the operation, including ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, and a printer. Six suspects were arrested, including Igbalaye and one Oladele Abiodun, described as a wanted suspect already on the police watchlist for alleged criminal offences. The command stated that the recovered items “raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities,” specifically citing vote-buying contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, and harbouring a wanted suspect.

Egbedun insisted that the SSG’s arrest was not an isolated incident, describing what he called a broader pattern of intimidation against officials of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. He recounted a separate incident in which, after receiving intelligence about a planned attack on his residence, Commissioner Gotan allegedly ordered all police officers attached to his security detail to report for questioning. “We received credible intelligence that some thugs were planning to attack my residence. My security personnel and I remained on high alert in anticipation of the attack. However, to my greatest surprise, my police orderly received a call from Commissioner Gotan directing that every police officer attached to me should report to his office for questioning that very day,” the Speaker alleged. Egbedun said he confronted the commissioner directly, telling him he would not be intimidated. “I immediately telephoned the Commissioner and told him that I am a proud son of Onikoyi, and that I neither fear nor bow to intimidation,” he said.

The Osun State Government strongly condemned the police action, with the Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, describing it as a major threat to a free and fair election. The government insisted that Igbalaye was not at home during the raid, as he was attending the INEC stakeholders’ meeting. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) offered a contrasting interpretation, describing the raid as vindication of its allegations that the ruling party was planning vote-buying. The Accord Party has also demanded the immediate redeployment of Commissioner Gotan, with the Imole Campaign Council alleging that 86 Accord Party members had been arrested in the preceding days.

The Osun State Police Command released Igbalaye on Thursday, less than 24 hours after his arrest. The Imole Campaign Council spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, welcomed the release, describing it as a “triumph of justice,” while the police confirmed that investigations into the recovered exhibits and alleged offences are still ongoing. Egbedun has appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to urgently intervene and review the conduct of Commissioner Gotan. He argued that the people of Osun deserve “policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law.”

Osun Speaker: CP Gotan Arrested SSG Igbalaye for Laughing When Police Boss Was Booed