Lagos to establish ‘waste police’ to enforce sanitation rules

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to introduce a “Waste Police” as part of efforts to enforce environmental sanitation laws and stop the dumping of refuse on roads across the state.

A statement by the Lagos state Government said the government also declared zero tolerance for waste disposal on Lagos roads, following a directive by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for the emergency evacuation of waste across the state’s road network.

The decision was reached after a meeting involving the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

The meeting, which was held on Saturday at the Ministry of Transportation, brought together key stakeholders to strengthen waste management and ensure cleanliness in motor parks, garages, and surrounding roads across Lagos.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said transport unions must ensure that their parks and garages are kept clean and must also discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal within their operational areas.

He also said the ministry would begin enforcement actions to ensure proper maintenance of motor parks and proper disposal of waste.

Reiterating the government’s stance, he said roads must not be used as refuse dumps and revealed that the state would set up a Waste Police made up of members of transport unions across all local government areas.

According to him, the Waste Police will be responsible for monitoring motor parks and their surroundings to prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The Lagos State Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Sam Egube, said transport operators in other parts of the world work closely with governments to manage transport infrastructure effectively. He urged all stakeholders at the meeting to work together to address waste management challenges in the state.

Also speaking, Hon. Sola Giwa called on NURTW and RTEAN to take full responsibility as partners in waste control by ensuring strict compliance in all motor parks and garages.

The Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, appreciated the transport unions for supporting the reintroduced environmental sanitation exercise and encouraged them to sustain their cooperation.

He noted that waste management cannot be handled by LAWMA alone, stressing the need for collaboration with transport unions whose members operate widely across the state.

Dr. Gbadegesin said that LAWMA evacuates about 13,000 tons of waste daily across Lagos, while the transport unions move an estimated 22 million commuters every day. He stressed the need for collaboration between LAWMA and the unions to ensure proper waste disposal at motor parks and garages, while also discouraging indiscriminate trading in their parks and corridors.

He also urged continued cooperation to discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal in parks and surrounding areas, while calling on unions to report violations for prompt action.

“LAWMA would continue to work closely with the unions, leveraging their presence across the State to monitor roads, motor parks and surrounding communities, urging them to report cases of indiscriminate waste disposal for prompt action,” Dr. Gbadegesin said.