Lagos is facing renewed concerns over waste management as heaps of uncollected refuse continue to appear in parts of the state, prompting fresh enforcement measures and an emergency response from the Lagos State Government.

The situation has become particularly visible along major roads, medians and residential areas, where residents have complained about prolonged delays in the evacuation of accumulated waste.

In August, residents of the Ejigbo-Idimu axis reported that refuse heaps had remained on road medians for about four months despite repeated complaints to waste managers and relevant authorities. The heaps were later cleared by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) following media reports on the situation.

The recurring accumulation of refuse has raised concerns about the sustainability of Lagos’ waste collection system, particularly as the state continues to deal with rapid urbanisation and a large volume of daily waste generation.

The growing pressure on the waste management system prompted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to declare what he described as a “small state of emergency” on waste management in September.

The governor made the declaration during an inspection of the Olusosun landfill, where long queues of waste trucks and delays in disposing of refuse had contributed to difficulties in the collection chain.

As part of the response, the state government announced plans to deploy additional compactor trucks and reopen more disposal facilities to ease pressure on the existing system. Reports said the government ordered 160 new compactor trucks as part of efforts to strengthen waste collection across Lagos.

The move reflects growing recognition that the problem cannot be addressed solely by clearing existing refuse heaps.

While residents have raised concerns about delayed evacuation, authorities have also blamed indiscriminate dumping for the recurrence of waste blackspots.

LAWMA has recently intensified enforcement against illegal dumping and other activities that contribute to environmental degradation.

In September, the agency disengaged some street sweepers, their supervisors and the service provider responsible for their operations after an investigation into alleged indiscriminate dumping along the Oworonshoki-Berger axis.

LAWMA said the affected personnel were found to have been involved in dumping waste on a road median that had already been identified as a recurring waste blackspot. The authority also arrested suspected illegal waste dumpers as part of its enforcement activities.

The development highlights the difficulty of maintaining cleared areas when waste is repeatedly dumped in unauthorised locations.

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LAWMA has said it is moving away from a strategy focused primarily on repeatedly clearing accumulated refuse.

In a September 2 report, the authority said it was combining waste evacuation with improved collection services, stronger enforcement, infrastructure upgrades and community engagement.

According to LAWMA Managing Director Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the objective is to address both operational gaps and the behaviour responsible for the recurrence of waste at locations that have already been cleared.

The authority said the approach includes deploying collection trucks into inner streets in areas where waste has repeatedly accumulated on road medians, while also taking action against illegal waste collectors and businesses that fail to comply with waste management regulations.

The accumulation of refuse presents more than an aesthetic problem.

Waste left for extended periods can create unpleasant odours, attract rodents and insects and contribute to the blockage of drainage channels. During heavy rainfall, improperly disposed waste can also be washed into drainage systems, potentially worsening flooding.

LAWMA’s own information on landfill management acknowledges that poorly managed waste disposal can contribute to insect and rodent proliferation, litter, bad odour and wider environmental degradation.

The concern becomes particularly significant during Lagos’ rainy periods, when blocked drains and waterways can increase the consequences of indiscriminate waste disposal.

Recent enforcement action illustrates the issue. LAWMA recently arrested a Lagos resident in Meiran for allegedly dumping refuse into a drainage channel during rainfall.

The waste challenge also highlights the shared responsibilities of government agencies, waste operators, businesses and residents.

LAWMA is responsible for coordinating waste management operations in Lagos, while private-sector participants play important roles in collecting waste from homes and businesses. Residents, however, also have a responsibility to use approved waste collection channels and avoid dumping refuse on roads, medians, drains and other unauthorised locations.

The authority’s recent strategy reflects an attempt to address both sides of the problem: improving the capacity to collect and dispose of waste while enforcing environmental regulations against those who dump refuse illegally.

For residents, the effectiveness of the response will ultimately depend not only on the removal of existing refuse heaps but also on whether waste collection becomes more consistent and cleared areas remain free of fresh dumping.

As Lagos expands and generates increasing quantities of municipal waste, the state’s ability to maintain a reliable collection and disposal system will remain central to environmental sanitation, public health and the quality of life of its residents.

The latest government intervention and LAWMA’s intensified enforcement represent attempts to address the immediate crisis. The longer-term test, however, will be whether the state can break the recurring cycle of waste accumulation, delayed evacuation, clearance and renewed dumping that has continued to affect parts of Lagos.