LAWMA, Police Strengthen Collaboration to Tackle Indiscriminate Waste Dumping
By Brown Chimezie
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Police Command have agreed to strengthen their collaboration to tackle indiscriminate waste dumping, curb illegal activities and encroachment at dumpsites, and enhance the protection of waste management facilities and personnel across the state.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, at the Lagos State Police Command, GRA, Ikeja.
Gbadegesin sought stronger police support for the Authority’s enforcement and operational activities, stressing that the rapid influx of people into Lagos had continued to place pressure on the state’s waste management infrastructure.
According to him, Lagos generates between 13,000 and 16,000 tonnes of waste daily, making sustained operational interventions, effective enforcement and inter-agency collaboration essential to tackling indiscriminate dumping and other environmental violations.
The LAWMA boss said that while the Authority was intensifying waste collection, infrastructure development, recycling and resource recovery initiatives, stronger collaboration with security agencies remained critical to protecting waste management infrastructure and ensuring effective enforcement of environmental regulations.
He also expressed concern over the safety of LAWMA personnel, including enforcement officers and street sweepers deployed to evacuate indiscriminately dumped waste.
Gbadegesin noted that some personnel had encountered resistance and attacks from unauthorised persons, including armed scavengers, while carrying out their statutory duties.
He therefore called for enhanced security around critical LAWMA facilities, operational locations and areas prone to illegal activities, stressing that the safety of personnel was essential to sustaining efficient waste management operations across the state.
“We are committed to working closely with the Police and other relevant security agencies to restore order around waste management facilities, protect our personnel and infrastructure, and ensure that anyone who assaults or obstructs our officers while performing their lawful duties is made to face the consequences of such actions,” he said.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, acknowledged LAWMA’s critical role in maintaining a clean, healthy and sustainable environment across Lagos State.
He commended the Authority for its sustained efforts to improve waste management and environmental sanitation, while observing that indiscriminate dumping and other environmental violations by some residents continued to undermine the gains recorded in the sector.
Fatai stressed the need for stronger enforcement, increased public awareness and responsible behaviour among residents.
He assured LAWMA of the full support and cooperation of the Lagos State Police Command in strengthening enforcement operations and addressing cases involving illegal dumping, unauthorised occupation and encroachment of dumpsites, as well as attacks on LAWMA personnel.
The Commissioner said the Command would work closely with LAWMA to ensure that environmental offenders faced the consequences of their actions, while supporting the Authority’s efforts to protect its facilities, personnel and operational assets.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both agencies to sustained collaboration, effective enforcement and stakeholder engagement as part of collective efforts to promote a cleaner, safer and more sustainable Lagos.
