Lagos Eyes Modern Waste System with New Infrastructure Push
The Lagos Waste Management Authority has called for increased investment in critical waste management infrastructure to bridge existing gaps and support the development of a comprehensive Waste Management Master Plan for Lagos State.
The Managing Director/CEO, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the appeal on Monday at the agency’s headquarters in Ijora Olopa while hosting a delegation from the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS.
Gbadegesin noted that although Lagos currently lacks a formal Waste Management Master Plan, efforts are ongoing to develop one that will guide long-term planning, investment, and sustainable waste management practices.
He stressed that addressing infrastructure deficits across the waste value chain requires sustained investment in key areas such as landfill development, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), waste-to-energy projects, biogas plants, and modern street sweeping systems.
The LAWMA boss also highlighted the need for investment in capacity building, expansion of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework through Private Sector Participation operators, and the promotion of local manufacturing of waste management equipment, including compactor trucks and tricycle compactors.
According to him, strengthening these components would improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service delivery across the state.
He further emphasised the importance of expanding recycling and waste recovery systems, with plans to establish Material Recovery Facilities in strategic locations such as Epe and Badagry to ease pressure on landfill sites and promote resource recovery.
Gbadegesin reiterated that Lagos, as a fast-growing megacity, requires a structured and forward-looking waste management system capable of meeting current and future demands.
Speaking during the visit, the leader of the EU delegation, Jacques Remy, commended LAWMA’s reform-driven approach and expressed interest in deeper collaboration, particularly in infrastructure development, capacity building, and sustainable waste solutions.
LAWMA reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with development agencies and stakeholders to build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable waste management system for Lagos State.
