The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has stated that its long-term goal is to transition Lagos towards a zero-waste economy, where waste generation would be minimised while maximising resource recovery, recycling and reuse.
Gbadegesin called for the need to update Lagos State’s Waste Management Master Plan to align with emerging realities and the growing demands of a rapidly expanding megacity.
This was contained in a statement on Friday by the Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, obtained by The PUNCH.
Gbadegesin stated that the state had operated a rolling waste management framework since the administration of Babatunde Fashola, which had guided reforms and improvements in the sector over the years.
He said, “The long-term goal is to transition Lagos towards a zero-waste economy, where waste generation would be minimised while maximising resource recovery, recycling and reuse.”
He noted that evolving urban challenges, population growth and changing waste patterns now required a more updated and comprehensive approach to sustain progress and drive future development.
“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,” he said.
According to Gbadegesin, the updated master plan would provide a clear roadmap for planning investments in critical infrastructure and system upgrades over the next 10 to 15 years.
He identified key priority areas 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 PSP operators.
The LAWMA boss added that the updated framework would also support capacity development and promote local manufacturing and assembly of waste management equipment, including compactor trucks and tricycle compactors.
He emphasised that such a transition would not only improve environmental outcomes but also unlock economic opportunities within the waste value chain.
Gbadegesin reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to continuous reform, strategic planning and collaboration with stakeholders and development partners to build a more efficient, resilient and sustainable waste management system for Lagos.
