Residents across Lagos are still grappling with mounting heaps of refuse in several communities, prompting an apology from the state government over ongoing waste management challenges.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made the apology in a statement posted on his official X handle on Friday, referencing an interview he granted on ARISE Television.
He said, “We had a challenge and we are fixing it”, assuring residents that efforts were underway to restore proper waste collection across the state. The apology follows viral videos showing overflowing refuse on major roads, markets, and residential areas, raising concerns over sanitation and public health.
The situation has also highlighted broader inefficiencies in Lagos’ waste management system, including infrastructure gaps and operational difficulties affecting refuse evacuation. In response, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation and directed relevant agencies to intensify clearance operations across the state, while also promising long-term reforms.
Wahab said the state is gradually transitioning from a linear waste disposal system to a circular economy model that treats waste as a resource.
According to him, the approach is aimed at improving environmental sustainability and generating economic value from waste. He added that a food waste digester has been commissioned in Ikosi to convert organic waste into energy, as part of a pilot initiative supported by C40 Cities.
Wahab reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening waste management systems and ensuring cleaner and healthier communities across Lagos.
