CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Residents and civil society groups in Lagos are raising concerns over waste management in the state, alleging a gap between service delivery and billing by the Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, and its Private Sector Participation, PSP operators.
In a press release issued on Saturday, the Citizens Action Network said that despite efforts by the Lagos State Government to keep the environment clean, several communities across the state continue to experience challenges with refuse collection.
According to the group, areas including Agege, Mushin, Yaba, Orile, Ejigbo, Idimu, Isolo, Ojo, Ikorodu, Ikotun, Alimosho Local Government, and other parts of the state have reportedly gone for months without seeing waste collection trucks. However, residents in those areas say they are still receiving monthly waste bills.
“This is illegal, unethical, and amounts to extortion,” said Ade-Adewunmi Adeoye, National PRO of Citizens Action Network.
The group described the situation as a potential public health concern. The release stated that “refuse is everywhere in Lagos State. Every house has heaps of waste in its compound,” and warned that the state “is fast turning into a dumping ground” if urgent steps are not taken.
It further noted: “We risk another outbreak of cholera and malaria in the state,” while also expressing concern that “the Lagos State Government appears to be doing nothing about it”.
Beyond waste collection, the Citizens Action Network also raised issues about LAWMA’s parking system. The group alleged that the agency has moved away from the “Park and Pay” model to a system of compulsory monthly tickets, which they say requires residents to pay for parking spaces regardless of usage.
The Citizens Action Network has presented three demands to the Lagos State Government and the Ministry of Environment, with a call for action within 30 days:
1. No Service, No Pay: Waste bills should be waived for any month where refuse is not collected in a community.
2. Return to Park and Pay: Reintroduce digital, per-hour or per-day payment options and discontinue compulsory monthly parking tickets.
3. Publish Service Report: LAWMA should release a monthly report detailing how many times each area was serviced and the revenue collected.
“We cannot continue to subsidize inefficiency and failure with our pockets,” the statement read. “Lagos residents deserve dignity, cleanliness, and fairness.”
As of the time of filing this report, LAWMA had not issued an official response to the allegations made by the group.
The Citizens Action Network concluded the statement with: “For the People, By the People.”