Dare Babalola
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has explained why it is advocating an update of the Lagos State Waste Management Master Plan, saying the move has become necessary to address emerging realities and the increasing demands of a fast-growing megacity.
The position of the agency was made known by LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, in a statement issued on Friday.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said Lagos had operated a rolling waste management framework introduced during the administration of former Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, which had guided reforms and improvements in the sector over the years.
He, however, noted that rapid urbanisation, population growth and changing waste generation patterns now required a more comprehensive strategy to sustain progress and prepare the state for the future.
According to him, “What we are doing is building on an existing foundation. The waste management system in Lagos has evolved over time, and the current effort is to update the framework to reflect new realities and position the State for the future.”
Gbadegesin explained that the proposed updated master plan would serve as a roadmap for investment in critical infrastructure and system upgrades over the next 10 to 15 years.
He listed priority areas under the plan to include landfill development, material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy systems, biogas plants, mechanical street sweepers, and expansion of the Public-Private Partnership framework through Private Sector Participation operators.
The LAWMA boss added that the updated framework would also promote capacity development and encourage local manufacturing and assembly of waste management equipment such as compactor trucks and tricycle compactors.
He further said the long-term target was to move Lagos towards a Zero Waste economy, where waste generation would be reduced while recycling, reuse and resource recovery would be maximised.
According to him, such a transition would not only improve environmental sustainability but also create fresh economic opportunities across the waste value chain.
Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to continuous reforms, strategic planning and collaboration with stakeholders and development partners to build a more efficient, resilient and sustainable waste management system for Lagos.
