Lagos residents seek crackdown on nighttime refuse dumping as evacuation intensifies
Refuse along the median in Oshodi on Tuesday. Photo: Olaoluwa Alo
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Residents of Lagos State have called for stricter enforcement against illegal nighttime refuse dumping as the state government intensifies waste evacuation across affected communities following a renewed clean-up directive by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The calls come days after Sanwo-Olu ordered an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state in response to complaints about growing refuse heaps in several communities.
The governor said additional trucks, personnel and resources had been deployed and charged relevant agencies to sustain the clean-up exercise.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro in separate interviews on Tuesday, residents acknowledged improvements in waste evacuation and environmental sanitation but lamented that indiscriminate dumping of refuse at night continued to undermine government efforts.
Correspondents who monitored activities in Oshodi, Yaba and Ketu observed ongoing waste evacuation in some locations. However, refuse was still visible along several roadsides and open spaces.
A resident of Oshodi, popularly known as Iya Ibeji, said conditions had improved compared to previous months but noted that the challenge was far from over.
“Before now, there was dirt everywhere, but it is not as much as it used to be. The government once cordoned off some areas with ropes before clearing the refuse, and that helped reduce the problem,” she said.
She described the persistent stench from refuse dumps as a major source of discomfort for residents and business owners.
“The smell disturbs us a lot. Customers often refuse to stay around because of the odour. Many people come here and quickly leave without buying anything.
“It is not only Oshodi; even in some of the inner streets, you can still perceive the odour because of the refuse,” she lamented.
According to her, illegal dumping by some residents continues to frustrate efforts to maintain a cleaner environment despite the sanitation levies paid by households.
“There was a time we could not trade properly for almost one week because of the smell. The odour affected the business seriously.
“Some people wait until midnight before dumping refuse on the roadside when nobody is watching. By the next morning, the place is filled with dirt again,” she added.
A roadside trader, identified simply as Mr IK, said refuse heaps near his business premises had significantly reduced patronage.
“The odour from the refuse has affected my business. Customers come around but often leave quickly because they are uncomfortable with the smell.
“The government has tried to keep the area clean, but some people frustrate those efforts by dumping refuse illegally at night and even defecating on the streets. Such behaviour is unacceptable,” he said.
A food vendor in the area also said poor waste disposal practices had negatively affected her livelihood.
“As a food seller, once refuse piles up nearby, flies gather around the area and customers become reluctant to buy food. Many people lose interest as soon as they see the environment. We are only trying to make a living, but some people keep frustrating our efforts,” she said.
She urged residents to adopt proper waste disposal habits and cooperate with sanitation authorities.
“People should call waste management operators to collect their refuse instead of dumping it on the roadside. We all have a responsibility to keep Lagos clean and healthy,” she appealed.
Meanwhile, a visit to Ketu revealed environmental task force officials monitoring compliance with sanitation regulations and educating residents on proper waste disposal.
An official of the local council development area, Sunday Bamisaye, said environmental sanitation had improved considerably since the deployment of the task force.
“Compared to before, the environment is better now. Some people used to dump refuse inside drainage channels, but now we monitor them closely.
“Whenever we see such practices, we educate them and tell them it is wrong. We want everyone to join hands in keeping Lagos clean,” he said.
Bamisaye also noted improvements in the drainage system.
“The drainage system is functioning well now. When it rains, the water clears quickly. That was not the case before,” he added.
Residents in Ketu, however, expressed mixed views about the situation. While some commended the ongoing clean-up efforts and the presence of environmental officials, others complained about irregular waste collection in parts of the community.
Some traders alleged that refuse collection services had become inconsistent.
One trader, Faith, said that although street sweepers were still active in the area, waste evacuation trucks no longer visited as regularly as before.
“They still come to sweep the roads, but the trucks that used to collect refuse are not coming frequently.
“It seems they only collect waste from residents who pay regularly. Most people now rely on cart pushers to dispose of their refuse,” she said.
Faith further alleged that she once overheard waste collection officials discussing payment issues while their truck was parked in the area.
“The day their truck broke down here, I wanted to throw my waste into it. I overheard some of the officials claim the people in the area were not paying. In our house, we used to pay monthly, but recently we hardly see them again,” she claimed.
The residents urged the government to strengthen enforcement of environmental sanitation laws and intensify public enlightenment campaigns on proper waste disposal.
They stressed that sustained waste management efforts, combined with responsible behaviour by residents, would improve public health, boost economic activities and contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable urban environment.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources has clarified that it has no plans to transfer the enforcement powers of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps to transport union officials.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kunle Adeshina, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said recent engagements with transport unions were aimed solely at improving environmental compliance within parks, garages, and bus stops.
“The State Government’s engagement with transport unions is aimed at fostering collaboration, promoting shared responsibility, and ensuring improved cleanliness and proper waste management within their respective parks and garages,” Wahab said.
He stressed that LAGESC, popularly known as KAI, in collaboration with the Lagos State Special Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, remains the legally empowered enforcement arm of the ministry.
“The Kick Against Indiscipline, or LAGESC, in collaboration with the Lagos State Special Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences, remains the duly empowered environmental enforcement arm of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and will not abdicate its responsibilities.
“The new partnership does not in any way diminish, transfer, or replace the enforcement responsibilities of LAGESC and the Task Force. Rather, it should be seen as a complementary initiative designed to strengthen environmental compliance, sanitation standards, and stakeholder participation in maintaining a cleaner environment across the state,” he added.
Wahab noted that environmental challenges persist within transport hubs, including illegal trading and indiscriminate refuse disposal.
“As we are all aware, several environmental challenges persist within parks, garages and the public transportation ecosystem, including illegal trading activities and the indiscriminate disposal of refuse on road medians and within transport facilities,” he said.
The commissioner urged residents to disregard what he described as misleading reports, assuring them that environmental cleanliness remains a top priority of the state government.
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