As part of measures to ensure a cleaner city, the Lagos State Government says it is committed to a 10-year development plan under which 100 new CNG compactor trucks will be procured for use next year.

This plan was disclosed by the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, on Wednesday during a media parley in Alausa, Ikeja. He added that subsequently, the state would introduce between 200 and 250 new trucks every year.

According to him: “To keep Lagos clean, we still need compactor trucks. Altogether, we need about 2,000 trucks—1,000 for day-to-day fleet and 1,000 for backup.

“This is a long-term investment package that would be supported by a statewide billing system. We will undertake enumeration of every household and billing by the state government. Through automation, you will now get a bill from the state government. When you pay and once we confirm that the PSP operators have done the job, we pay them.”

Gbadegesin reiterated that LAWMA is working towards transparency and accountability in the waste management system.

“We believe that Lagos residents are ready to pay for waste collection if they will get good service, and that is what we will ensure going forward,” he said.

He also stated that, as part of measures to sanitise the waste collection and disposal system and ensure standards, the agency has terminated the contracts of about 22 PSP waste operators for underperformance this year and has reassigned their slots to new operators.

Gbadegesin announced plans by the state to acquire 500 mobile compactor tricycles by the middle of next year to address gaps created by hard-to-reach communities.

The MD said this had become imperative because many areas are difficult to access due to narrow roads.

He explained: “Currently, we are running this system in Ibeju-Lekki. The chairman, Sesan Olowa, approached us about a year ago, saying PSP operators were not entering the communities and that he wanted to introduce tricycle compactors.

“Around the same time, we heard about an entrepreneur who brought in tricycle compactors. So we advised both parties to collaborate, and today they have been running that system well, and the people have embraced it in Iwerekun-Lekki.

“We have now decided we can replicate this in other parts of Lagos. We met with all local governments recently, and they pledged to support the new system.”

He reiterated that the adoption of mobile compactor tricycles can also absorb some cart pushers.

“The PSP operators can buy some, engage cart pushers and put them on salary. We can now have a more efficient system for Lagos.”

Gbadegesin reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner environment, urging residents to stop dumping refuse on roads and in canals. He warned that anyone caught disposing of refuse in drainage channels or unauthorized places will face sanctions under state sanitation laws.

He advised residents to embrace waste separation, noting that 90 per cent of what is thrown away has value.

“We must start sorting that waste, collecting it and giving it to those who need it. Waste to wealth is the key to Lagos’ survival. When you go to Olusosun and Solous 3, you will see it,” he stressed.

“In Lagos, we must move to a point where we ban landfill sites, and that is what we are moving towards as a state government. We have commenced decommissioning Olusosun and Solous 3 within the next 18 months. We are already two months into that timeline—allow some flexibility—but we are committed to decommissioning them,” he said.