[EXCLUSIVE] Lagos waste crisis: Sanwo-Olu orders LAWMA MD to resign

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign over the heaps of refuse littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels across the state, PUNCH Online has learnt.

An insider within the agency, who spoke to PUNCH Online on condition of anonymity on Monday, said Sanwo-Olu had become increasingly dissatisfied with Gbadegesin’s handling of the waste management crisis and had advised him to resign.

According to the source, the governor’s displeasure followed concerns over the slow pace of waste evacuation and the agency chief’s alleged failure to act promptly on directives aimed at addressing the situation.

“The governor was at the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota a month ago and was dissatisfied with the state of things. He gave instructions that immediate action be taken on the matter, as he has declared a state of emergency on waste management.

“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 source said.

For about six months, from August 2025 into early 2026, residents across Lagos have repeatedly complained about worsening waste collection, with refuse accumulating along road medians, streets and major highways.

The waste management challenge has been reported in several parts of the state, including Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2, where residents have had to contend with decomposing refuse along streets and drainage channels.

The situation has raised concerns over environmental sanitation, public health and the impact of the waste crisis on businesses and the state’s image.

PUNCH Online in September reported that Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on waste collection after inspecting the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, where he ordered immediate measures to address challenges affecting the sector.

The governor, accompanied by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, met with stakeholders in the waste management sector at the dumpsite to assess the challenges affecting municipal waste collection and outline immediate, medium- and long-term solutions.

Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the slow pace of waste collection across the state, attributing the situation partly to the failure of Private Sector Participation operators to meet their obligations in the preceding weeks.

He said waste compaction activities were ongoing at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites, adding that completing the exercise would facilitate faster waste evacuation.

The governor also explained that recent fire incidents at the dumpsites had slowed operations but noted that work had resumed, with contractors working to clear the sites for daily waste disposal.

According to him, completing the ongoing projects would enable each dumpsite to receive about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the capacity of the PSP operators.

However, the continued accumulation of refuse in several communities has intensified despite calls for urgent intervention to restore effective waste collection across the state.

Meanwhile, Gbadegesin, while giving a weekly update about waste management in the state on Saturday, wrote on his X handle that there has been major clearing in Mile 2, with three additional trucks deployed to Doyin-Orile and its environs.

“11 of the 15 routes in this week’s programme now have field updates. Key outcomes include: Mile 2 cleared with routine collection sustained; 3 additional trucks deployed on Doyin–Orile; daily service maintained on Ijesha Road and Itire–Ikate; Bucknor–Ijegun cleared with 3x-weekly collection.

“Okeira and Oluodo under LAWMA interim service following PSP termination; collection sustained at Ogolonto and Igbokusu; Obalende cleared, provided with a bin and placed under surveillance; and clearance continues at Iraye. Four routes remain awaiting field updates: Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu–Ejigbo Road and Isheri–Igando corridor. The objective is to progress from clearance to sustained collection and prevention of recurrence, not simply remove visible waste.”

Our correspondent made an attempt to get the reaction of the state Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, on the telephone on Monday, but one of his aides said the commissioner was in a meeting.

The aide asked our correspondent to call back in some hours.

Gbadegesin was reappointed the agency head by Sanwo-Olu following the governor’s re-election.