₦airaland Forum

How it started?
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor issued directives following the flood that ravaged parts of the State.

Dear Lagosians,

I have directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation across Lagos following the recent build-up of refuse in some parts of our state.

LAWMA, LASEPA, and the Ministry of Environment are currently working around the clock. We have deployed extra trucks and personnel to clear the backlogs across all affected neighbourhoods. You should already see progress on the streets and we will not stop until our city is completely clean again.

Lagos generates over 13,000 tons of waste every single day. Managing this requires a massive effort but our determination to fix the current challenge is absolute.

As we continue this cleanup, I ask for your partnership. Please bag your waste properly and avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels or on the roads.

We are fully on top of this situation. Let us work together to keep Lagos clean and safe for everyone.

Babajide Sanwo-Olu

GRV replies

Your Excellency, unsurprisingly, this statement is an admission of failure, not a solution.

Lagosians do not need periodic emergency evacuations of mountains of refuse. What they need is a functional waste management system that prevents waste from accumulating in the first place.

For years, residents have endured overflowing dumps, uncollected refuse, blocked drainage channels, and worsening environmental conditions despite billions of naira allocated to environmental management.

The fact that you now have to “direct an immediate scale-up” after waste has already overwhelmed communities is an utter failure of leadership.

Indeed, Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily today, just as it did yesterday, last month, and last year. This is not a surprise. It is a known reality that should be planned for through efficient collection, waste sorting, recycling infrastructure, transfer stations, waste-to-energy investments, and transparent performance management of operators.

Like your commissioner, you cannot continue to shift responsibility to citizens to “bag their waste properly” when many communities are left without reliable and affordable waste collection services. Rightly, Citizens have a responsibility to dispose of waste properly, but government has an even greater responsibility to provide the infrastructure and systems that make proper disposal possible.

Lagos cannot continue operating reactive clean-up exercises and public relations statements whenever refuse piles become impossible to ignore.

Lagos deserves a modern, accountable, and sustainable waste management system: one that measures success not by the number of trucks deployed after a crisis, but by the absence of the crisis itself.

Again, Your Excellency, after seven years in office, why is Lagos still battling a problem that should have been solved through competent planning, execution, and oversight?

I guess the answer is obvious: if e didn’t dey, e didn’t dey.
#OURLAGOS

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Lagos Commissioner for Environment replies GRV

Dear Gbadebo @GRVlagos

A lot of people are genuinely concerned about the waste situation in parts of Lagos, and that concern is understandable. Waste is not something you can talk around. If refuse is sitting on your street, beside your market, close to your bus stop, or inside the drainage near your house, the only thing that matters to you is that it should be removed. And that is fair.

But it may also help to explain the scale of what is being managed, and what is actually being done.

Lagos generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste every day. Not weekly. Every day. In May alone, LAWMA and PSP operators evacuated about 418,500 tonnes of waste across the state, which comes to an average of about 13,200 tonnes daily. That is not a small operation. It involves hundreds of PSP operators, public waste teams, transfer and disposal operations, street sweepers, enforcement teams, customer service staff, drivers, loaders, supervisors and monitoring officers working across a very large and difficult city.

Just to mention, during the 2026 Hajj, Saudi Sanitation Authorities announced that a total of over 472 tons of waste were generated from Mina and Muzdalifah. This is total waste generated by pilgrims all over the world in 5 days.

Still, nobody is pretending that everything is fine everywhere. Some communities have had delays. Some PSP operators have not performed well. Some routes have grown beyond the capacity that was originally assigned to them. In some areas, road access is poor. During the rains, movement into disposal sites can become slower. Trucks break down. Diesel and spare parts are expensive. Payment compliance is also weak in many places, and when people do not pay for waste service, the operators struggle to maintain trucks, pay crews and keep to schedule. These are not excuses but the harsh realities that have to be fixed.

That is why LAWMA has been reviewing weak routes, replacing and sanctioning underperforming operators, increasing monitoring, and deploying evacuation teams to pressure points. As of last month (May), 442 PSP operators were active across Lagos while 27 routes were under review for service improvement. LAWMA also received 474 complaints and service requests that month, which are now part of how the agency is identifying weak spots and following up on operator performance.

There is also a daily blackspot operation that many people do not see unless it is happening near them. LAWMA clears 3,000 black spots every day across 57 routes. These are the road medians, market edges, illegal dumping points, bus stops, setbacks and open spaces where people keep dropping waste outside the normal collection system. Some are cleared in the morning and abused again by night. That is one of the hardest parts of the job.

This is why enforcement has become more serious. In 2025, LAWMA recorded 1,023 incidents of illegal dumping and other waste violations across the state. Out of these, 447 cases were referred for prosecution. The surveillance teams also identified 431 scavengers and reconciled 145 properties with their assigned PSP operators. The data showed that much of the illegal dumping happens between midnight and early morning, and the waste is not only household refuse. It includes construction debris and even hazardous waste in some cases.

So when people say “just clear it,” we agree. It must be cleared. But we also have to stop the same locations from being turned back into dumpsites again and again.

Street sweeping is another big part of the work. Lagos has thousands of sweepers working across hundreds of routes, including highways, medians and major public corridors. This work starts very early, and it is not easy work. Some areas are swept daily, but once people keep littering from vehicles, markets, shops and buses, the same routes look dirty again within hours. That is why the long-term answer cannot be sweeping alone. We need better behaviour, stronger enforcement, more mechanised sweeping on strategic roads, and safer working conditions for the sweepers.

The bigger reform is infrastructure. Lagos cannot continue with the old collect-and-dump model. That is why construction is ongoing for Transfer Loading Stations to replace the old landfill operations at Olusosun in Ojota and Solous III in Igando. These will be supported by Material Recovery Facilities in Ikorodu and Badagry, so waste can be moved out of the centre of the city to modern facilities where it can be sorted, recovered, recycled and repurposed.

The Olusosun system is expected to move about 2,500 tonnes of waste daily to the Ikorodu MRF, while the Solous III side is expected to move about 1,500 tonnes daily to the Badagry recovery facility. The target for this transition is 6 months. Once completed, it should reduce pressure on the old dumpsites, improve the flow of waste evacuation, reduce congestion around disposal points and give Lagos a more serious recovery and recycling platform.

There is also the organic waste side, which is very important because a large part of Lagos waste is food and market waste. The Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester has now been launched to treat organic waste closer to source and convert it into useful outputs like biogas, electricity and fertiliser. The plan is to replicate that model in other markets that generate high volumes of organic waste, instead of moving everything across the city to landfill.

So yes, the complaints are valid. Some backlogs should not have happened. Some residents have not received the service they deserve. Some operators have disappointed. There is no need to deny any of that.

But the fuller picture is that waste is being evacuated daily, black spots are being cleared daily, operators are being monitored, weak routes are being reviewed, illegal dumping is being prosecuted, street sweeping is ongoing, and new infrastructure is being built to change the system from the ground up.

Government has a duty to keep improving the system. Residents, markets, estates and businesses also have a duty to use the system properly and stop illegal dumping. Both things are true.

Lagos is not where it should be yet. But it is not standing still either. The work now is to clear what has built up, fix the routes that are failing, hold operators accountable, and complete the infrastructure that will move Lagos from dumping to sorting, recovery, recycling, energy and circular economy.

So, for your nomadic self to jump on the Governor’s release for your political agenda without talking solutions speaks to who you really are.

Tokunbo Wahab

GRV fires back

Mr. Wahab,

Impact is felt, not explained in 1,578 words.

Your plastic policy has failed.

Your environmental policy, if one truly exists, has been ineffective.

Your waste management policy has been an unmitigated disaster.

The only area where you have consistently delivered is the demolition of the hard earned properties and livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

Not to mention your Bigotry and Gaslighting.

You have lost the moral authority to remain in office.

You should resign.

Today.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Wahab retaliates

Dear Chinedu @GRVlagos

I have no interest in descending into the mudslinging and distractions you appear to thrive on. My focus remains on the important work before us - supporting the efforts of the Lagos State Government to ensure the safety, well-being, and prosperity of Lagosians.

If being committed to public service, good governance, and the protection of the interests and heritage of Lagosians is what you choose to describe as bigotry, then I make NO APOLOGIES for standing firmly by those principles. Public service is not a tea party - but how can you know what it entails? Nemo dat quod non habet.

For the sake of clarity, I would advise you, in your saner moments, to acquaint yourself with my record in public service - from my appointment as Special Adviser on Education to Mr. Governor in 2019 to my present tour of duty at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. The record is public, and it speaks for itself.

As for the labels and accusations, I will leave others to judge them on their merits. I have no intention of engaging in personal attacks or trading insults with a political nomad driven by ignorance and needless hatred.

I wish you all the best.

TW

Tokunbo Wahab

GRV fires back

Typical. So typical of the APC. Once they lose the argument, they retreat into hate mongering, ethnic slurs, and divisive rhetoric.

The names are Gbadebo, Chinedu, Patrick RHODES-VIVOUR, Take your pick of any of the three and let's focus on the work you were entrusted to do.

Wahab, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but not only have you been the worst Commissioner for Environment this state has seen, you have also been one of the most irresponsible, unbecoming occupants of public office.

Again, you are not fit for public office.

As I told you in 2024, for the next couple of months try an DO YOUR DAMN JOB!!!

Ẹgbọn If you cant , you should resign.

Today.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour

Gbadebo na indeed a Groove.

Flood is something natural which is caused by heavy rain

And as for the refuge blockage, that's caused by the citizens who chose to be dumping their refuse inside gutter

At least the LASG are taken measures in preventing such case which Grooves as an opposition is not interested in appreciating

Chinedu GRV should go and rest. He seems to be addicted to Hon. Tokunbo. One would think Hon Toks is the only politician in Sanwo Olu's cabinet.

Ps: Why his GRV crying over his own name. So calling you your birth name which you also campaigned with yourself in 2019 is now bigoteewee. Wonders shall never end

helinues:
Gbadebo na indeed a Groove.

Flood is something natural which is caused by heavy rain

And as for the refuge blockage, that's caused by the citizens who chose to be dumping their refuse inside gutter

At least the LASG are taken measures in preventing such case which Grooves as an opposition is not interested in appreciating

The guy is just trying to stay relevant.

Enugurangers:
The guy is just trying to stay relevance.

The year that UAE did cloud ceding, the amount of rain for some months exposed the country of not having proper drainage system.

The building structures in Lagos state is also affecting the passage of the flood apart from refuse dumping. Those are the responsibilities of the citizens which Grooves is part of

chopnaira:
Chinedu GRV should go and rest. He seems to be addicted to Hon. Tokunbo. One would think Hon Toks is the only politician in Sanwo Olu's cabinet.

Ps: Why his GRV crying over his own name. So calling you your birth name which you also campaigned with yourself in 2019 is now bigoteewee. Wonders shall never end

I did not know when calling someone "Chinedu" became a slur.

And same GRV is following twitter's biggest Igbo tribalist on X called Harry. That same Harry has done more damage to Peter Obi's candidacy with his pro-Igbo tribal bigotry.

Anytime, twitter deactivated that Harry's account, GRV quickly re-follows harry's new account. Very rich for him to call others bigot.

The chinedu hit grv for bad place... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

He wasn't expecting that jab I guess

I'm with Gbadebo on this.
Could anyone believe that in my compound, we have 3 month refuse piled up. No PSP operator showed up to evacuate the refuse. This is the situation in my community.
Assuming I don't have space to accommodate 3 month refuse in my compound, won't I be tempted to drop some on the road median?

Tokunbo Wahab should show workings, Lagos is becoming dirtier under his watch. This is not time to blow grammar or throw banters.
Oga show workings or you resign.

SANWO-OLU REMAINS THE WORST LAGOS STATE EVER LIVETH.

How can you have IGR bigger than Bombay and you are struggling with waste disposal?

The problem with goverment in all states is they don't fire people.

It is this attitude that will always make these employees to collect salary without work.

clearcrystal:
Tokunbo Wahab should show workings, Lagos is becoming dirtier under his watch. This is not time to blow grammar or throw banters.
Oga show workings or you resign.

SANWO-OLU REMAINS THE WORST LAGOS STATE EVER LIVETH.

I agree.
Fashola and Tinubu are the best.

Goodvibes007:
I agree.
Fashola and Tinubu are the best.

Which of the Tinubu please?

MICHEALADEX:
The chinedu hit grv for bad place... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

He wasn't expecting that jab I guess

Why is he crying over his own name. He is ashamed of the name his mother gave him. That boy na real tool.

AMINDA:
Which of the Tinubu please?

Tinubu gave us Fashola. So?

This was also lord and savior, Obi's era in Anambra.

Typical of people in public office.

They never accept that they have failed, spectacularly and comprehensively. Instead, they resort to excuses, talking endlessly about what they claim to have done or what they intend to do.

Imagine comparing waste management in Saudi Arabia to the environmental catastrophe Lagos has become under his watch.

It's always the same script, We have put this in place, We are about to put that in place, or we hope to put that in place" and then hoping that promises and wishful thinking will somehow succeed where competence has failed.

clearcrystal:
Tokunbo Wahab should show workings, Lagos is becoming dirtier under his watch. This is not time to blow grammar or throw banters.
Oga show workings or you resign.

SANWO-OLU REMAINS THE WORST LAGOS STATE EVER LIVETH.

This is just one of the numerous demerits of the one-party system that you lot have enabled under Tinubu. When politicians do not fear electoral repercussions, you end up being at their mercy and it will only take the fear of God for them to perform because they have no other incentive to do so.

This people make refuse collection look hard

You have excess waste what do you do ? You create demand for waste simple

Here is my solution

Look for lagocians into waste management and recycling above 10 to 15 of them ( minimum of 10 years in the industry )

Give them loans to set up recycling plants for
Plastic ,paper , organic to compost plant. And metal and glass

The most expensive part of recycling is sorting so we give that to the people . How ?

1) pass a law charging every house or flat 5000 naira refuse collection fee

Give each house 5 cans to dispose waste and five close waste bags

One must contain one organic waste
One only plastic
One only paper/ wood
One only glass waste
One only metals

5000 fees gets you 3 times refuse collection a week

Give out contract to refuse collection companies and each customer have a right to rate their service every week , get below 60% rating 3 times in a year and you lose your contract

Then sale the refuse to the companies earlier use that to pay the collectors plus the 5000

Trust me in 18 months Lagos would need to import waste to meet demand

This things are not hard it’s not difficult

Na Lie..

Na Wahab dey cry and resorted to to your TYPICAL ethnic hatred..

He exposes the Dosuomu clown effectively.

MICHEALADEX:
The chinedu hit grv for bad place... 🤣🤣🤣🤣

He wasn't expecting that jab I guess

Goodvibes007:
Tinubu gave us Fashola. So?

As per? So who gave you Tinubu? God himself? This is how you lot have built a god-like status around one man. If he manages to win and annoints a successor, any achievement recorded by that successor and the one after that will be attributed to Tinubu even though he is currently failing woefully. Emancipate yourself.

GRV....just finished this losers political reality.

The demolition of IGBO and other Non Yoruba properties by this Wahab has finished him totally.

Nuff Said.





Typical. So typical of the APC. Once they lose the argument, they retreat into hate mongering, ethnic slurs, and divisive rhetoric.

The names are Gbadebo, Chinedu, Patrick RHODES-VIVOUR, Take your pick of any of the three and let's focus on the work you were entrusted to do.

Wahab, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but not only have you been the worst Commissioner for Environment this state has seen, you have also been one of the most irresponsible, unbecoming occupants of public office.

Again, you are not fit for public office.

As I told you in 2024, for the next couple of months try an DO YOUR DAMN JOB!!!

Ẹgbọn If you cant , you should resign.

Today.

He is a SOLID lagosian. Even Yekini elchapo Tinubu doesnt have roots in lagos.

Goodvibes007:
Why is he crying over his own name. He is ashamed of the name his mother gave him. That boy na real tool.

esnbrutality:
He is a SOLID lagosian. Even Yekini elchapo Tinubu doesnt have roots in lagos.

A real lagosian supporting SE terrorists activities. Lmao.

Goodvibes007:
A real lagosian supporting SE terrorists activities. Lmao.

APC n propaganda smh 🤦 your life don davido

Oppositions in Lagos are just like Peter and Atiku!

They have no firing power!

If I was contracted to finish APC rule in Lagos, it would be one my easiest jobs.

So so many things to attack, but Gbadebo is attacking waste.

What of Lagos debt, IGR and Allocation with relation with what the government is offering?

How about the government accredited thugs and hooligans extorting Lagosians?

These people want to talk anyhow and say anything but don't want response, just pandering. Premium gaslighting.

clearcrystal:
I'm with Gbadebo on this.
Could anyone believe that in my compound, we have 3 month refuse piled up. No PSP operator showed up to evacuate the refuse. This is the situation in my community.
Assuming I don't have space to accommodate 3 month refuse in my compound, won't I be tempted to drop some on the road median?

You don't mean it?
They no come?
Are you owing?
I pay just 4K in my house and they show up twice a month with no misses at all

elijahozzy:
APC n propaganda smh 🤦 your life don davido

My response to you below

A billionaires’ village in Enugu is groaning under a pandemic of dust… but Okekes and Chinedus would rather want to gaslight Tokunbo Wahabs 🤗 pic.twitter.com/pURBVJQ4al

— AJE (@Riddwane) June 21, 2026

Who is Gbadebo Vivpour again? Oh iz that not that Lagos self acclaimed indehene who don't know where he actually came from?

Next topic pls...

Tokunbo is a disgrace....he reduced his conversation to calling Rhodes ...Chinedu

All these APC guys seff

The fact is that Lagos is dirty and stinking from .....Iju to Idi Araba to Alana Rago to Ipaja

He should stop this ethnic slurs

clearcrystal:
I'm with Gbadebo on this.
Could anyone believe that in my compound, we have 3 month refuse piled up. No PSP operator showed up to evacuate the refuse. This is the situation in my community.
Assuming I don't have space to accommodate 3 month refuse in my compound, won't I be tempted to drop some on the road median?

Is that why he was crying coz they called him Chinedu?