The Nigerian Air Force Base, Ikeja, has commended the Lagos Waste Management Authority for its swift intervention in evacuating accumulated waste within the Base environment.
The Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, announced this in a statement obtained by The PUNCH.
According to the statement, the Commander of the 651 Base Services Group, Air Commodore Mohammad Imam, gave the commendation on Monday during a courtesy visit to the LAWMA headquarters, where he expressed appreciation to the agency for deploying about twenty waste evacuation trucks to clear refuse from the base.
Imam noted that the prompt intervention significantly improved sanitation within the Base and demonstrated LAWMA’s strong commitment to environmental cleanliness across Lagos State.
“We are here to sincerely appreciate the management and staff of LAWMA for the excellent job done, as the deployment of about twenty trucks to evacuate waste from the Base shows dedication to service and partnership in ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment,” Imam said.
He further praised the reinstatement of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos State, set to begin on the last Saturday of April, describing it as a laudable move to enhance public hygiene and promote environmental responsibility.
Imam assured that the Nigerian Air Force would back the state’s sanitation and waste management efforts, noting that personnel from the Base would be deployed to help enforce compliance with environmental standards statewide.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, thanked the Nigerian Air Force delegation for the visit and for acknowledging the agency’s ongoing efforts to maintain a cleaner Lagos.
Gbadegesin called for stronger collaboration between LAWMA and the Nigerian Air Force, particularly in the area of technical engagement and operational cooperation that could further strengthen environmental management and sanitation enforcement across the state.
He explained that Lagos State was gradually transitioning from a linear waste disposal system to a circular economy model where waste was treated as a valuable resource with economic and environmental benefits.
The LAWMA Managing Director cited the biodigester facility at Ikosi Fruit Market as a practical example, noting that organic waste generated within the market was processed to produce biogas for energy use.
Gbadegesin also highlighted the LAWMA Academy initiative, which introduces schoolchildren to waste sorting practices, recycling culture, and emerging opportunities within the waste management value chain.
He added that the agency would continue to strengthen collaboration with government institutions, corporate organisations, and communities in advancing sustainable waste management and environmental responsibility across Lagos State.
