The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has deployed 25 trucks for emergency waste evacuation in Oshodi to address refuse buildup and improve environmental sanitation.

The Head of Private Sector Participation (PSP) Services at LAWMA, Tunde Suleiman, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Lagos.

Mr Suleiman attributed the waste buildup to high population density, increased waste generation, inadequate waste containers and low tariffs paid by residents for collection services.

He said Oshodi, which has more than 350 streets, remained one of the local government areas with the lowest waste collection tariffs in Lagos State.

According to him, residents still pay N750 per room, a rate he said no longer matches the operational costs of PSP operators.

“We need to look at the rates. The people are still holding on to the old rates, which are not commensurate with the operational costs of PSPs today,” he said.

The LAWMA official added that the state government was conducting a statewide tariff review to address the challenges confronting waste collection services.

Mr Suleiman said the deployment involved 25 trucks, supported by a working floor that could accommodate four at a time.

He noted that LAWMA had commenced similar interventions in other parts of Oshodi, including Folorunsho Street and Oluwole, off Oshodi Road.

Mr Suleiman said LAWMA had a desk officer at the local government secretariat to receive and channel complaints appropriately.

He added that several PSP operators serving the area, including Excellence, Tunap, Buckler Enterprises and Pepet, had offices residents could contact over waste collection challenges.

Mr Suleiman identified inadequate waste containerisation as another major factor contributing to refuse accumulation in Oshodi.

He said LAWMA was promoting an “Adopt-a-Bin” initiative to encourage households to provide containers suited to their population and waste-generation levels.

Mr Suleiman also urged residents to embrace waste sorting and recycling, particularly of plastic bottles, cans and paper, to reduce the volume of refuse requiring evacuation.

On the frequency of emergency waste evacuation exercises across Lagos, he said such interventions were not intended to become routine but were necessary when serious waste management challenges arose.

He urged residents to cooperate with LAWMA and PSP operators by paying appropriate waste collection charges, providing adequate bins and adopting responsible waste management practices.

(NAN)