Waste Crisis: Sanwo-Olu Orders LAWMA MD Muyiwa Gbadegesin to Resign

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reportedly asked the chief executive of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign over the persistent accumulation of refuse across the state.

According to the Punch Newspapers on Monday, the governor was dissatisfied with Mr Gbadegesin’s handling of the waste management crisis, particularly the slow pace of waste evacuation and the alleged failure to implement directives aimed at resolving the situation.

It was reported that Mr Sanwo-Olu’s decision followed an inspection of the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago, during which he expressed dissatisfaction with the state of operations and directed that urgent action be taken.

“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 newspaper quoted a source as saying.

For months, residents across several parts of Lagos have complained about deteriorating waste collection services, with refuse accumulating along roads, streets, road medians and drainage channels.

Areas affected include Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2, raising concerns about environmental sanitation, public health and the impact on businesses.

In September, Mr Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on waste management following an inspection of the Olusosun Dumpsite, where he met with stakeholders to assess operational challenges and outline immediate, medium-term and long-term measures.

The governor, accompanied by his deputy, Mr Obafemi Hamzat, attributed part of the problem to the failure of Private Sector Participation operators to meet their obligations in the preceding weeks.

He also said fire incidents at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites had slowed operations, although work had resumed to facilitate waste evacuation.

Mr Sanwo-Olu explained that completing ongoing compaction projects would enable each dumpsite to receive about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the capacity of PSP operators.

Despite the interventions, refuse accumulation has continued in several communities.

Mr Gbadegesin was reappointed in 2023 as LAWMA managing director by Mr Sanwo-Olu following the governor’s re-election.