The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has dismissed claims that recent flash floods across the state were caused by delays in waste collection, insisting that the flooding was driven by other environmental factors.
Speaking during an interview, Wahab acknowledged that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) experienced operational challenges in recent months but stressed that the situation had no direct link to the flooding witnessed after heavy rainfall.
According to him, the state government had already directed LAWMA to improve its operations by accelerating waste collection and resolving logistical bottlenecks.
“The directive of the governor was basically to tell LAWMA to ramp up and change its model so that it can operate on a faster cycle,” he said.
Wahab admitted that waste collection was affected by logistics issues and challenges at landfill sites, prompting the government to review its approach and increase turnaround time.
“I apologise on behalf of LAWMA and the state,” he said, adding that waste evacuation had continued around the clock in recent weeks to clear the backlog.
Despite the improvements, the commissioner maintained that waste collection delays should not be blamed for the recent flooding.
“Are we there yet? I’ll tell you no. But that is also not the reason for the flash flooding,” he said.
Wahab argued that Lagos’ waste management challenges date back decades, noting that the state had relied for years on a linear system of collecting refuse and dumping it in landfills.
He said the government was now transitioning to a waste-to-wealth model that treats waste as a valuable resource capable of generating energy, fertiliser and recyclable materials.
As part of the reforms, he disclosed that Lagos had launched pilot projects to convert organic waste into compost and electricity, while partnerships with private firms are underway to recycle thousands of tonnes of municipal waste daily.
The commissioner also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal by some residents for worsening environmental conditions, saying many people dump refuse on road medians and inside drainage channels instead of paying for proper waste collection.
According to him, the state generates more than 13,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, making sustained investment in modern waste management systems essential.
He assured residents that the government would continue strengthening waste collection, expanding recycling initiatives and improving environmental infrastructure to address the state’s growing waste challenges.
