Improving Public Waste Disposal and LAWMA Collection Services in Lagos State

We say Lagos is dirty, but I say Lagosians are dirty. While the government has a responsibility to keep the state clean, residents also have a responsibility to dispose of their waste properly. However, we cannot expect people to dispose of waste responsibly when the necessary facilities and services are not readily available.

I often have to take my trash home because I cannot find a waste basket at the bus stop. I propose that the Lagos State Government provide waste baskets at every bus stop, with regular collection and proper maintenance.

Also, we need a more active and accountable Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) system. Many residents complain that LAWMA fails to collect their waste despite regular payments. This leaves some with little choice but to resort to ‘’peke peke’’, an informal and unsafe waste disposal method.

The government should strengthen waste collection monitoring, ensure operators keep to agreed schedules, and establish an effective complaint system for residents who pay for services they do not receive. Where collection fails, residents should have access to reliable alternatives rather than being pushed towards unsafe disposal practices.

Public education should also encourage residents to use available waste baskets and dispose of rubbish responsibly, while appropriate enforcement discourages indiscriminate dumping.

Keeping Lagos clean requires more than blaming residents. We need accessible disposal facilities, reliable waste collection services, and citizens who take responsibility for their environment because both the government and residents must play their part in building a cleaner, healthier Lagos.