Lagos Confirms LAWMA MD’s Removal Amid Refuse Crisis

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the appointment of Akinyemi as the Acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), replacing Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, amid mounting concerns over refuse accumulation across the state.

The appointment was disclosed on Wednesday by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, during an inspection of the upgraded Solous II dumpsite in Igando, Lagos, according to a statement by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adesina,

Wahab also announced the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as Acting Executive Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi retained his position as Executive Director of Finance.

The development comes as the state government intensifies efforts to address waste management challenges following the accumulation of refuse in several parts of Lagos.

In a separate statement issued on June 18, 2026, the state government said Sanwo-Olu had directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across Lagos, with relevant agencies and service providers instructed to work round the clock to clear refuse backlogs.

The governor also directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, LAWMA, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) and other agencies in the environmental sector to intensify their operations.

The government said additional resources had been deployed to support waste evacuation and improve collection and disposal operations across affected communities.

It disclosed that Lagos generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, describing the volume as one of the highest on the African continent.

As part of the intervention, the state government has upgraded the Solous II dumpsite in Igando to accommodate an average of 100 waste evacuation trucks daily.

Wahab said the facility would ease pressure on the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, which has reached its operational limits.

According to him, the rehabilitation became necessary after consultations with waste management operators and other stakeholders, who recommended reopening Solous II as an immediate measure to address the disposal challenges.

He explained that the facility was strategically positioned to serve Lagos West, the state’s largest waste management zone, covering Alimosho, Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Mushin, Badagry, Ikeja, Ojo and Apapa, among other areas.

The commissioner added that the government was also exploring alternative waste disposal locations around Badagry and Epe as part of efforts to expand the state’s disposal capacity.

He urged Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators to improve their services and ensure timely collection of refuse from residents, stressing that residents who pay for waste collection deserve efficient services.

Wahab also called on community stakeholders, particularly members of the Awori community, to support the initiative and take ownership of the upgraded facility.

Meanwhile, the National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), Dr Olugbenga Adebola, commended the state government for rehabilitating Solous II.

Adebola said the association had presented proposals to the government on addressing the waste disposal challenges and expressed appreciation that its recommendations had received favourable consideration.

He assured the government that members of the association would take collective ownership of the facility and work with relevant authorities to make it a model dumpsite.

He also urged PSP operators, particularly those operating in Lagos West, to improve their efficiency and intensify refuse collection following the reopening of the facility.