‎The Lagos State Government has restored operations at the Igando dumpsite, with waste managers promising improved collection across affected communities.
‎
‎The facility is expected to receive at least 100 waste trucks daily, easing disposal challenges across Lagos West.
‎
‎Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Tokunbo Wahab disclosed this during an inspection of the facility in Igando on Wednesday.
‎
‎Wahab said that the dumpsite, which was previously shut down, was being restored following engagements between the ministry and waste operators.
‎
‎He said that the intervention formed part of the government’s emergency response to waste management challenges, alongside plans to develop additional disposal facilities in Badagry and Epe.
‎
‎According to him, Igando will serve Lagos West, the state’s largest geographical zone, while Olusosun will cater for the eastern part of the state.
‎
‎“If this place achieves what we intend to achieve with it, it shows this address can have at least 100 trucks a day coming to discharge,” he said.
‎
‎Wahab urged Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to improve collection services, particularly in communities where residents had complained about irregular waste evacuation.
‎
‎“Once they pay for a service, let the PSP operators do the right thing. The right thing is to collect the waste,” he said.
‎
‎Also speaking, Dr Olugbenga Adebola, National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN), promised significant improvement in waste collection across the Alimosho axis.
‎
‎Adebola said that the restored facility would ease operators’ difficulties in accessing disposal sites, which had forced some to transport waste outside Lagos.
‎
‎“Some months ago, operators had to travel to Sagamu to dump waste. That is over 120 kilometres outside Lagos,” he said.
‎
‎Adebola said that the association would direct its members to intensify operations and take advantage of the restored facility.
‎
‎He disclosed that the association had close to 700 trucks in its fleet, adding that functional disposal facilities were essential for efficient waste collection and transportation.
‎
‎The AWAMN president appealed to the state government to rehabilitate three other proposed disposal facilities in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry.Rent Dumpsters
‎
‎He said that the Igando intervention was one of about four disposal sites the association had proposed for rehabilitation.
‎
‎Adebola commended the government for providing bulldozers and other equipment to improve operations at the facility.
‎
‎He, however, said that waste disposal challenges would persist in some areas, particularly Ikorodu, where the dumpsite had remained closed since mid- September.