Lagos Must Match Waste-Disposal Enforcement With Reliable Collection
LAWMA is right to sanction traders and residents who dump refuse on road medians, drains and other public spaces. Indiscriminate dumping blocks drainage, worsens flooding and creates serious health risks. But enforcement alone cannot fix Lagos’ waste problem. In many communities, residents who pay PSP operators for waste collection still wait weeks for their bins to be emptied. This does not excuse illegal dumping, but it shows that the system is failing people who are trying to do the right thing. Lagos State must audit PSP operators, sanction persistent failures and licence competent providers where necessary. LAWMA should also provide a simple platform for reporting missed collections, with clear timelines for resolving complaints. More transfer stations, recycling facilities and modern collection equipment are needed to reduce dependence on landfills. A clean Lagos requires both firm enforcement and reliable service. Government, market associations, community leaders and residents must work together to improve waste disposal, protect public health and prevent flooding.
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