The resurgence of refuse heaps on Lagos roads and communities has exposed deep structural flaws in the state’s waste management system. Recent floods that paralysed large parts of the city indicate that a lot must be done to overcome the menace, even as the government has unveiled fresh interventions, including a special environmental enforcement unit and the procurement of additional waste evacuation trucks. But will these measures be enough? BERTRAM
NWANNEKANMA examines the causes of the crisis, its implications and reforms required to restore environmental sanity in the state.
For decades, Lagos was regarded as one of Africa’s cleanest and best-managed cities, supported by a structured waste management system built around government oversight and Private Sector Participants (PSPs).
Today, however, that reputation is increasingly under threat as major highways, inner-city roads and residential neighbourhoods have become overflowing refuse dumps.
In many areas, waste remains uncollected for months, forcing residents to keep refuse within their homes while awaiting evacuation.
Beyond the unsightly appearance, the situation has become a major environmental, economic and public health concern, even as incessant torrential rainfall has submerged roads, homes and businesses, further exposing the fragility of the waste management system.
In response to growing public outrage, the Lagos State Government announced plans to deploy an additional 150 compactor trucks; establish a special environmental enforcement unit, and strengthen recycling initiatives.
However, interviews with waste management experts, former and serving officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), sustainability advocates and PSP operators indicate that the crisis runs much deeper than indiscriminate dumping by residents.
