The fears being expressed by Lagos residents of a possible disease outbreak due to the heaps of refuse that now litter major roads in most parts of the state are valid. The state government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has apparently dropped the ball on waste management, and the supposed Centre of Excel
lence has been turned into a massive stinking dumpsite.
A report published by The PUNCH on Monday showed that the sight and stench of uncollected garbage now define the landscape of Iyana-Ipaja, Agege, Abule Egba, Oshodi, Iyana-Iba, and many other areas.
In Igando, Shibiri, and Isheri-Jakande, residents complain that refuse is now left uncollected for weeks or even months. Private Sector Participants operators, who are supposed to be the backbone of the city’s waste collection system, are accused of inefficiency and poor supervision. Many lack functional compactors.
The major highways in Ikorodu areriddled with mountains of stinking refuse, posing a clear danger to the health of residents and visitors.
“The smell is terrible, especially when it rains. The stench from the refuse spreads across the street and into our houses. Sometimes, we can’t even open our windows. Flies have taken over everywhere. We’ve reported to the PSP office in the area, but nothing has been done,” a resident was quoted as saying.
Many residents say they pay regularly for waste disposal, yet trucks hardly come. Worse still, some PSP officials reportedly continue to collect dues despite providing no service, threatening to seal homes that fail to pay.
“It has now become a serious issue, and it looks like we don’t have a government in the state anymore. People dump refuse on the median, and the PSP operators leave it there,” another resident said.
The state government says it arrested residents dumping waste indiscriminately.
The consequences are visible. Markets are also bearing the brunt. At Oshodi Market, traders now sell beside mounds of refuse, forced to endure the foul odour as part of their daily routine.
Along Ekoro and Meiran roads in Agbado-Oke Odo LCDA, hills of garbage composed of plastic, vegetable waste, and nylon buzz with flies. This is unacceptable.
It is baffling that in 2025, Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, still struggles with basic waste management.
Despite repeated promises of reform and modernisation, piles of decaying refuse continue to fester along major roads, blocking drainage channels and exposing millions to health hazards.
Last year, the General Manager of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, revealed that the state’s 23 million residents generate over 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, yet there appears to be no effective strategy to deal with this massive output.
Sadly, poor waste management contributes to open burning, air pollution, and the spread of diseases.
According to the Clean Air Fund, Lagos already suffers from high PM2.5 concentration due to uncontrolled burning and illegal dumping—activities that worsen respiratory illnesses and lower life expectancy.
What is unfolding in Lagos is not merely an environmental concern; it is a looming public health emergency. The failure to enforce proper waste collection schedules, supervise PSP operators, and provide adequate disposal facilities reflects a troubling breakdown of a system once regarded as the best in the country.
Large cities like London, Paris, and Johannesburg face similar urban waste challenges as Lagos due to their huge populations, limited space, and environmental concerns, yet they manage and dispose of their waste more effectively through centralised and tech-driven systems, effective recycling structures, strong enforcement, and public participation.
Sanwo-Olu and Wahab must regain control of the situation before the waste crisis degenerates into an epidemic.
The government should urgently reassess its waste management system, strengthen oversight of PSP operators, and ensure prompt clearance of refuse across all neighbourhoods. Lagos mustbuild modern waste disposal and recycling systems.
Citizens, too, must play their part by refraining from indiscriminate dumping and demanding better service delivery from those paid to keep their communities clean.
A city that prides itself on being the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy cannot continue to wallow in filth.
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