Lagos to Establish ‘Waste Police’ to Tackle Illegal Refuse Dumping

The Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to establish a “Waste Police” to strengthen enforcement of environmental sanitation laws and curb indiscriminate refuse disposal across the state.

The move forms part of renewed efforts by the state government to maintain cleaner roads and public spaces following Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive for the immediate evacuation of waste from major roads and highways.

The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting involving the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

The meeting, held on Saturday at the Ministry of Transportation, focused on improving waste management practices within motor parks, garages and adjoining road corridors.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, urged transport unions to ensure their parks and operational areas remain clean, while discouraging indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal.

Osiyemi disclosed that the state would intensify enforcement measures to ensure compliance with environmental standards, stressing that roads must no longer serve as dumping grounds for refuse.

He revealed that the proposed Waste Police would comprise members of transport unions drawn from all local government areas in the state. According to him, the team will monitor motor parks and surrounding communities to prevent illegal dumping and promote proper waste management.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sam Egube, noted that transport operators in many parts of the world work closely with governments to maintain transport infrastructure and public facilities, urging stakeholders to adopt a similar collaborative approach in Lagos.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, called on transport unions to take ownership of waste management efforts by ensuring strict compliance with environmental regulations in parks and garages under their control.

The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, commended the unions for supporting the reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise and encouraged them to sustain their cooperation.

Gbadegesin noted that LAWMA evacuates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily across Lagos, while transport unions move an estimated 22 million commuters every day, making their partnership essential to improving waste management across the state.

He added that LAWMA would continue to work closely with transport unions, leveraging their extensive presence across Lagos to monitor roads, motor parks and surrounding communities, while encouraging them to report cases of indiscriminate waste disposal for prompt action.