Lagos Waste Reporter

16/06/2026

15/06/2026

In a bid to clamp down on activities degrading the state’s aesthetics and safety, the Lagos State Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Team apprehended a group of hoodlums during a crackdown operation early Sunday morning.

​The enforcement team targets chronic black spots known for public disturbances and environmental infractions. The operation focused on the high-brow Victoria Island axis, specifically around Muri Okunola Park and Akin Adesola Street.

​According to officials, the arrested individuals were found constituting a severe environmental nuisance, disrupting the peace, and violating state environmental laws in the commercial hub.

All apprehended individuals have been transferred to the Special Offences (Mobile) Court in Oshodi for profiling and immediate prosecution.

​The Lagos State Government has repeatedly warned that it will maintain a zero-tolerance policy for environmental lawlessness. ​"Our parks and commercial avenues are meant to be safe, clean spaces for residents and visitors. We will not allow hoodlums to convert these strategic locations into havens for environmental nuisance,"

Tokunbo Wahab
Lagos State Ministry Of The Environment and Water Resources

14/06/2026

There Was a Time Our Cooked Food Moved From the Pot to the Plate—Now It Moves From Pot to Nylon

​By: Sanni Gbenga Ibrahim
​Managing Editor & Lead Investigator, Lagos Waste Reporter

​Take a stroll down any street in Lagos during the breakfast or lunchtime rush. Observe the busy activity around local food vendors—the Bukas and roadside stalls. If you look closely, you'll notice a quiet dangerous revolution in our eating habits.

​Gone are the days when you would approach a food vendor and have your steaming hot Eba, Amala, or Fufu served directly from the pot onto your plate. Today, an uninvited third party has inserted itself into our culinary tradition. Our cooked food now moves from the pot into a plastic nylon bag before it ever touches the plate.

​What seems like a simple convenience is actually a double-edged sword, silently harming our public health and damaging our environment. As environmental investigators, we must look beyond the convenience and face the toxic reality of this trend.

​From Hot Nylon to Chronic Illness

​The shift toward widespread plastic packaging is happening without much thought about its health effects. When boiling hot food—often at temperatures over 100°C—is scooped straight into thin, non-grade plastic nylon, a chemical reaction takes place.
​These nylons are not meant to withstand high heat. The heat causes the plastic to break down, releasing hazardous chemicals like bisphenols (BPA) and phthalates into the food.
​Recent medical studies and growing clinical evidence paint a frightening picture for Nigeria. There is a documented increase in serious health conditions across our population, including:

​Colon Cancer: Linked to the ingestion of microplastics and chemical toxins that disrupt the gastrointestinal system.

​Liver and Kidney Problems: These vital organs act as filters for the body, but they are increasingly overwhelmed by the toxic load from synthetic chemicals.

​Hormonal and Reproductive Disruptions: Phthalates are endocrine disruptors that mimic hormones and interfere with internal biological functions.

​We are essentially poisoning ourselves for the sake of easier cleanup. The danger doesn’t end when the meal is finished. Once the food is unwrapped, that contaminated nylon is promptly discarded. Because it is cheap, flimsy, and heavily soiled with food oils, it holds almost no value for waste pickers or informal recycling networks.

​Where does it go? It ends up exactly where our investigations track it daily.

​Clogging Our Drainage Systems: Millions of these thin nylons end up in Lagos gutters. They form dense, impermeable mats that block storm drains.

​Artificial Flooding: When it rains, water has nowhere to go. The blocked drains cause flash floods that flood streets, destroy property, and halt economic activity.

​Breeding Grounds for Disease: The stagnant water trapped by these nylon blockages becomes an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes and pathogens, raising malaria and cholera rates in our communities.

​The Way Forward..

​We cannot afford to ignore the threat to our health and environment. Reversing this trend requires action from the Federal and State governments, regulatory agencies, and environmental groups.

​The Ministry of Health and environmental agencies must launch vigorous awareness campaigns targeting food vendors and the public. People need to understand that using nylon as a plate-liner or for wrapping hot food poses active health risks. We must rebuild a culture that values food safety.

​Advice without enforcement is just words. The government must implement strict regulations on food packaging materials. Local authorities and health inspectors need to monitor compliance at the community level. If a vendor cannot serve food safely without risking health or clogging drainage, enforcement measures must follow.

​The government must also push for a serious move away from single-use plastics. Incentives should promote sustainable packaging options—whether that’s returning to traditional, biodegradable leaf wraps for some foods, using reusable containers, or enforcing extended producer responsibility obligations on packaging manufacturers.

​A Call to Action

​Our health and environment are at risk. The convenience of modern plastic packaging is an illusion that we’re paying for with our lives and the well-being of our cities. ​It’s time to close the gap between the pot and the plate. We must eliminate the toxic middleman—plastic nylon. For the sake of our colons, kidneys, streets, and drainage systems, we need to demand a return to safe, sustainable, and responsible food handling.

13/06/2026

The waste management challenge in Lagos is not just about infrastructure; it is fundamentally about technical and behavioural understanding.

According to Lagos Waste REPORTER 2025 comprehensive report, most illegally dumped waste does not come from ordinary citizens experiencing service delays. Instead, it is driven primarily by residents with Non-Compliance Status.

This group can be identified by three key markers:

The Unsubscribed: Residents who refuse to register with assigned PSP operators.

The Unequipped: Households and commercial properties lacking waste storage facilities (no bins or standard bags).

The Debtors: Properties with large overdue balances that choose illegal dumping to avoid payment.

11/06/2026

LAWMA EVACUATES OVER 418,000 TONNES OF WASTE IN MAY, STRENGTHENS SERVICE DELIVERY ACROSS LAGOS

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has released its operational performance report for May 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve waste collection, environmental sanitation, and service delivery across Lagos State.

Speaking on the report, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin said that the Authority remained focused on improving operational efficiency, strengthening service delivery, and addressing pressure points within the waste management system.

He disclosed that LAWMA and its network of licensed Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators evacuated a total of 418,500 tonnes of waste across the State in May, representing an average daily evacuation of 13,200 tonnes.

He stated that 442 PSP operators remained active across Lagos State, while 27 routes were currently under review as part of ongoing efforts to optimize service coverage and improve collection efficiency.

He added that the Authority cleared 173 waste blackspots during the reported period, covering road medians, markets, bus stops, and other public spaces impacted by indiscriminate waste disposal.

The LAWMA boss noted that the Authority continued to strengthen its customer engagement systems, receiving 474 complaints and service requests during the month, while ongoing efforts were being made to enhance response times and improve service delivery across the State.

According to him, LAWMA currently deploys 77 compactor trucks, five skip trucks, and 12 other operational equipment units across the State to support waste evacuation and environmental sanitation activities.

He stated that ongoing service improvement measures include route restructuring and optimization, enhanced monitoring of PSP operations, infrastructure upgrades, equipment deployment, and sustained enforcement against environmental infractions.

He urged residents to support government efforts by patronizing approved PSP operators, reporting service gaps through official channels, and refraining from indiscriminate waste disposal.

According to him, Lagos operates one of the largest urban waste management systems in Africa, requiring continuous investment, infrastructure upgrades, enforcement, and stakeholder collaboration to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population.

The LAWMA boss reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to delivering cleaner communities, improving service standards, and building a more resilient and sustainable waste management system for Lagos State.

10/06/2026

LAGOS BOOSTS WASTE MANAGEMENT AS ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY RECEIVES 10 NEW COMPACTOR TRUCKS

​LAGOS, NIGERIA — In a major move to scale up waste management and promote environmental sustainability, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has officially taken delivery of 10 brand-new waste compactor trucks.

​The vehicles were donated by the Lagos State Lottery and Gaming Authority (LSLGA) as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at supporting the state's sanitization efforts.

​Speaking at the official handover ceremony on Wednesday, the Honourable Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, commended the lottery authority for the intervention. He described the donation as a stellar example of inter-ministerial collaboration and public-sector synergy.

​"This donation reflects the strong synergy between Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and the private sector in addressing environmental challenges associated with rapid urbanization and population growth in Lagos," Wahab stated.

​The addition of these 10 modern compactor trucks is expected to immediately boost the operational capacity of the state’s waste management framework, allowing for faster collection times and more efficient processing of refuse across major corridors.

​As Lagos continues to grapple with the pressures of a skyrocketing population, local authorities emphasize that partnerships like this are vital. The new fleet will be deployed strategically to high-pressure zones to mitigate illegal dumping and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for residents.

omotoso

10/06/2026

The LAWMA Waste Investigation, Surveillance and Enforcement Team apprehended five individuals for unlawfully disposing of waste at an unauthorized location during an overnight surveillance operation that extended into the morning of June 9, 2026, within Ogudu Ojota, and Palm Grove, along Ikorodu Road Lagos. The suspected individuals have been transferred to the Oshodi Mobile Court for further legal proceedings.

09/06/2026

officials conducted a compliance operation today, with the Technical Department visiting BUA GROUP for a routine inspection of water infrastructure and compliance levels. The operation aligns with the agency's regulatory mandate.


adeyemo.520

09/06/2026

𝗟𝗮𝗴𝗼𝘀 State Government Officials N𝗮𝗯𝘀 15 F𝗼𝗿 R𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 U𝘀𝗲𝗱 D𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 P𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 P𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 T𝗼 F𝗼𝗼𝗱 V𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀

Lagos authorities arrest 15 suspects for collecting used disposable plastics and plates from refuse bins and reselling them to food vendors, posing a public health risk.

07/06/2026

LAWMA Crackdown, Seizes Barrows, Warns Residents Against Illegal Dumping

In an intensified effort to eliminate unlawful waste disposal throughout Lagos State, the LAWMA Waste Investigation Surveillance and Enforcement team conducted a significant enforcement operation today along the Ikorodu and Alapere corridors.

Led by Mr. Sanni Idowu, the team took decisive action against illicit waste management practices, confiscating wheelbarrows used by unauthorized cart pushers engaged in illegal dumping activities.

During the operation, the team issued firm warnings to local traders and residents, underscoring that the government of the state will no longer condone actions that jeopardize public health and environmental integrity.

"We are conveying a clear message to all individuals within this corridor, cease illegal waste dumping immediately, or face the full extent of legal repercussions," stated Mr. Idowu.

This initiative forms part of an extensive, ongoing campaign by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to eliminate black spots, prevent drainage obstructions, and promote a cleaner, healthier environment across the state. Authorities have also encouraged residents to report illegal dumping activities through designated LAWMA channels to bolster sustainability efforts.