The Lagos State Government has reopened the Igando dumpsite to ease waste disposal challenges across the state, with the facility expected to receive at least 100 waste trucks daily.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection of the facility in Igando, explaining that its restoration followed engagements between the ministry and waste management operators.
He said the intervention was part of the government’s emergency response to mounting waste management challenges, alongside plans to develop additional disposal facilities in Badagry and Epe.
According to Wahab, Igando will serve Lagos West, the state’s largest geographical zone, while the Olusosun dumpsite will cater to the eastern part of Lagos. “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.
The commissioner urged Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to improve waste collection services, particularly in communities where residents have complained about irregular evacuation. He stressed that operators must fulfil their obligations to residents who pay for waste collection services.
“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 improvements in waste collection across the Alimosho axis following the reopening.
He explained that the closure of the facility had created serious operational difficulties for waste managers, forcing some operators to transport collected refuse outside Lagos for disposal. “Some months ago, operators had to travel to Sagamu to dump waste. That is over 120 kilometres outside Lagos,” Adebola said.
He disclosed that the association would direct its members to intensify waste collection and take advantage of the restored facility to improve service delivery. Adebola added that AWAMN had close to 700 trucks in its fleet, stressing that functional disposal facilities were essential to efficient waste collection and transportation.
While commending the Lagos State Government for providing bulldozers and other equipment to support operations at Igando, Adebola appealed for the rehabilitation of three additional proposed disposal facilities in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry.
He said the Igando intervention was part of about four disposal sites the association had proposed for rehabilitation to strengthen waste management infrastructure across the state.
However, he noted that disposal challenges would persist in some communities, particularly Ikorodu, where the dumpsite had remained closed since mid-September.
The reopening of Igando is expected to ease pressure on waste disposal operations in Lagos West. However, sustained improvement will depend on the availability of functional disposal infrastructure and the ability of waste collection operators to provide regular and reliable services.
