LAWMA Moves To Clear Illegal Structures At Olusosun Dumpsite
By Emmanuel Daniji
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has begun moves to remove shanties and other illegal structures encroaching on the Olusosun Dumpsite, warning occupants that the activities could threaten the smooth operation of one of Lagos’ major waste management facilities.
The exercise began on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with the issuance of removal notices to owners and occupants of structures identified within the dumpsite.
For Lagos residents, the condition of waste-disposal facilities may seem distant from everyday life, but any disruption to the system can quickly become a citywide problem, with delays in waste evacuation potentially leaving refuse on streets and in communities.
Announcing the exercise, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said the removal of illegal structures was necessary to safeguard the dumpsite and preserve its accessibility.
He said owners and occupants of the affected structures had been directed to remove them and vacate the area within a stipulated period, in line with the law.
Gbadegesin explained that protecting the integrity of the Olusosun facility was essential to maintaining safe and efficient waste management operations across Lagos State.
According to him, encroachment and other unauthorised activities could obstruct access to the facility, interfere with waste management operations and undermine efforts to maintain an organised disposal system.
The LAWMA boss reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to maintaining an orderly environment and ensuring that waste management facilities remain functional and accessible.
The removal exercise forms part of wider efforts to preserve Olusosun as a functional waste management facility while addressing activities that could compromise its operations.
The authority is expected to proceed with enforcement against structures that remain within the affected areas after the expiration of the removal notices.
For a city as densely populated and active as Lagos, keeping waste management infrastructure accessible is more than an issue concerning a dumpsite. It has a direct bearing on how quickly waste can be moved away from homes, markets, offices and public spaces.
LAWMA said the ongoing exercise is therefore aimed at protecting the facility and ensuring that it continues to serve its intended purpose.
