The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has stated that Lagos State is yet to have a Waste Management Master Plan.
Gbadegesin added that LAWMA is actively advocating its development as a strategic framework to guide long-term planning, investment, and sustainable waste management practices.
He disclosed this on Monday at Ijora Olopa, Lagos, while receiving a delegation from the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States. A statement on Thursday by the Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, obtained by The PUNCH, indicated that he called for increased investment in critical waste management infrastructure and systems to address existing gaps and support the ‘development of a comprehensive Waste Management Master Plan for Lagos State’.
Gbadegesin emphasised that closing the infrastructure gap across the waste value chain required deliberate and sustained investment, “particularly in landfill development, material recovery facilities, waste-to-energy projects, biogas plants, and mechanical street sweeping systems”.
He mentioned that more money was needed to train people, grow partnerships with private companies, and encourage local production of waste management tools like compactor trucks and tricycle compactors.
According to him, strengthening these areas will significantly improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery across the state.
The LAWMA boss further highlighted the need to scale up recycling and waste recovery systems through the establishment of MRFs in strategic locations such as Epe and Badagry to reduce pressure on landfill sites and promote resource recovery.
He reiterated that Lagos, as a rapidly growing megacity, required a structured and forward-looking waste management framework capable of addressing current challenges while preparing for future demands.
LAWMA reaffirmed its commitment to working with development partners and stakeholders to strengthen the waste management ecosystem and drive the transition towards a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable system for Lagos State.
Speaking during the visit, the leader of the European Union delegation, Jacques Remy, commended LAWMA for its reform-driven approach and ongoing efforts to improve waste management systems in the state.
He expressed the EU’s interest in continued engagement and collaboration with LAWMA, particularly in areas of infrastructure development, capacity building, and sustainable waste management solutions.
