[Special Report] Lagos: Heaps of waste, foul smell as New Year gift to residents

It’s 10 days into the New Year (2026) and the sight and smell round Lagos is not only unpleasant and foul but pose a looming health crisis that the state might not be able to handle. 

After a successful ‘detty December’ run, the state appears to still be recovering from the overwhelmingness of the end-of-year festivities that usual generate excesses in revenue and wastes. A statewide close-up observation by NewsClick Nigeria Media team showed the recurring indiscriminate waste disposal attitude of most residents and obvious irregular collection by waste operators, therefore turning major highways, busy junctions and streets into new dumping sites.

From Ajah, Miles 2 and 12, Igando, Mushin, Ikotun, Agege, Itire, Okota, Oshodi, Ojota, Ikorodu, Abule Egba, Berger, and beyond, the sight and smell are same. Wastes are scattered on roadsides; drains are poorly maintained, dumpsites overflow, and indiscriminate disposal takes centre state everywhere.

We get short serviced despite paying for waste services – Residents lament 

Some residents who spoke with NewsClick Nigeria took responsibility for dumping refuse at unapproved spots but blamed it all on the poor service delivery of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).

‘I won’t lie, I’ve had to dispose my waste on one of the mounting heap spots in my area and this is majorly because the LAWMA/PSP people have not shown up in almost a year. The tradition before was like twice a week and they will ring bell to alert people to bring out their wastes for collection. That suddenly vanished and we’re left to dispose these wastes ourselves. Meanwhile, they keep bringing bills and we pay. We temporarily opted for the cart pushers but I guess the state is clamping down on them,’ a resident of Ikotun who identified himself as Ayomide said.

A resident of Ita-Elewa in Ikorodu on her part said the LAWMA/PSP operators hardly get to their side and that residents have had to sort their wastes disposal themselves since she parked to the area some six years ago.

‘I don’t think I’ve seen waste people come pick up wastes here before. Residents have personal waste disposal bags/nylons that we dispose off at certain waste spots, though not government approved. However, I hear the Community authorities have reached out to LAWMA and they’re likely to include our area for collection from this year.

According to data from official sources, the state generates an estimated 13,000 metric tonnes of solid waste daily. The state government, however, struggles to manage this effectively as only 4,000 tonnes, which is about 33 per cent of the daily waste generated, is collected. Heaps of refuse on Lagos streets though now becoming the norm present an unpleasant visual of the city, and this is worsened when the resultant odour from poor sanitation practices comes into the mix.

Poor waste management has significant physical, social and economic costs. The inefficient waste management system also contributes to climate change impacts as the waste sector accounts for 25.3 per cent of Lagos State’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Contracts of 27 PSP operators terminated for underperformance – LAWMA 

The Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin in a reaction said dumping waste on road medians is “illegal and unacceptable” and that the agency has put measures in place to stop the trend.

He added that the agency is embarking on joint enforcement against illegal dumping, and immediate clearance and restoration to prevent the trend of dumping waste on road medians.

Gbadegesin said the agency takes claims of service gaps in the operations of PSP waste operators seriously, adding that the operators are being monitored.

He disclosed that the agency terminated the contracts of 27 PSP operators in 2025 over “underperformance and reassignment of their slots to other companies”.

“First, let me be clear: dumping waste on road medians is illegal, dangerous, and unacceptable,” he said.

“Beyond the odour and visual blight, it creates traffic hazards, blocks drainage corridors and increases public-health risks- especially in a city with the scale of Lagos.

“We take claims of service gaps seriously. Our approach is to verify facts quickly and take quick action.

“LAWMA supervises PSP operators through a monitoring framework that includes field performance checks and escalation based on service delivery.

“Where any operator is found to be failing, whether due to operational lapses, equipment constraints, or non-compliance with assigned service standards, LAWMA applies corrective measures, including warnings, sanctions, and reallocation of service areas.

“To underscore that this is enforced in practice: in 2025, LAWMA terminated the contracts of 27 PSP operators for underperformance and reassigned their slots to other companies.

“In addition, 17 companies are currently on their final warning,” Gbadegesin said in a recent interview with TheCable.

Waste pile-up caused by Olusosun dump site closure – Commissioner 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab had in December said waste accumulation in parts of the state is largely due to the ongoing decommissioning of the Olusosun landfill, which has forced a major shift in refuse disposal logistics.

Wahab explained this in a statement posted on his official X handle on Monday, December 22 assuring residents that urgent steps were being taken to address the situation.

According to Wahab, waste previously taken to Olusosun is now being transported to alternative landfill sites in Epe and Badagry, a move that has increased turnaround time for some Private Sector Participation operators.

“The ongoing decommissioning of the Olusosun landfill has necessitated a significant shift in waste disposal logistics. Refuse previously destined for Olusosun is now being transported to alternative facilities in Epe and Badagry,” he said.

He noted that the longer haulage distances had placed temporary pressure on the waste evacuation system, leading to delays in some areas.

To contain the situation, Wahab said the Lagos Waste Management Authority had been directed to step in where PSP operators were overwhelmed.

“LAWMA has been directed to provide immediate support in areas where PSP operators are overwhelmed. Intervention activities are actively ongoing, particularly at identified black spots across the state,” he stated.

On enforcement, Wahab disclosed that the state had set up a special task force to tackle illegal roadside dumping and indiscriminate waste disposal.

“A dedicated Task Force has been established to specifically combat illegal roadside dumping and indiscriminate waste disposal caused majorly by illegal roadside trading,” he said, adding that the team would operate 24-hour surveillance and enforcement.

He urged residents to dispose of waste responsibly and patronise only approved PSP operators, while assuring that the government was addressing the challenges.

“While we take full responsibility for these inconveniences, let me assure all Lagosians that this administration is fully committed to the vision of a cleaner, more orderly, and sustainable city,” Wahab said.