…Orders Mass Redeployment of Senior Officers, Overhauls Agency’s Leadership
…Lagos Government Confirms Appointment
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has approved the appointment of Hon. Olajuwon Mautin Akinyemi as the Acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), effectively replacing Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin.
The development was confirmed by the Lagos State Government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, who disclosed that Akinyemi had been directed to assume office with immediate effect.
The appointment forms part of a sweeping administrative restructuring of LAWMA, which also includes the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as Acting Director of Operations, while Mr Kunle Adebiyi retains his position as Executive Director, Finance.
The shake-up reportedly extends beyond the agency’s top management, with the governor ordering the redeployment of senior officers across various departments to other arms of the Lagos State public service.
A source within LAWMA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had earlier informed The Punch that the reorganisation was designed to strengthen service delivery, address operational deficiencies and restore efficiency in the state’s waste management system.
According to the source, officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 are to be redeployed to the mainstream Civil Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
The source explained that LAWMA personnel in the Legal Department would be exempted from the exercise to avoid disruptions to ongoing litigation, legal obligations and concession agreements.
Similarly, the heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations have been granted an initial 90-day exemption to enable the new management to stabilise the authority and ensure uninterrupted service delivery.
Confirming the development, Omotoso said Akinyemi’s appointment was with immediate effect.
“Yes, Olajuwon Akinyemi has been told to assume office as the Acting MD of LAWMA with immediate effect in the major shake-up of the agency,” the commissioner stated.
The leadership change follows growing public concerns over the accumulation of refuse across major highways, residential neighbourhoods, road medians and drainage channels in Lagos.
It was earlier reported that Sanwo-Olu had directed Gbadegesin to resign amid mounting dissatisfaction over the slow pace of waste evacuation and alleged failure to promptly implement government directives aimed at tackling the worsening sanitation situation.
For several months, residents across different parts of Lagos had complained about deteriorating waste collection services, with heaps of refuse becoming increasingly visible in public spaces.
Lagos generates approximately 14,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, making LAWMA a critical component of the state’s environmental management and public health infrastructure.
The latest development, however, signals a broader institutional overhaul rather than a mere change of leadership, with the government seeking to reposition the authority for improved efficiency, accountability and sustainable waste management.
WHO IS THE NEW ACTING LAWMA MD?
Akinyemi, an indigene of Badagry Local Government Area, is an experienced public administrator with a background in public service management.
Before his latest appointment, he served as Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), having been appointed to the position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2025.
He previously held the position of Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) in the Lagos State Civil Service for UBEC-related responsibilities.
Akinyemi also served as Director of Administration and Human Resources in the Office of Infrastructure in Lagos State.
His emergence comes at a critical time for LAWMA, as the new management faces the challenge of restoring public confidence, improving waste collection and ensuring cleaner streets and a healthier environment across Lagos State.
