Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reportedly appointed Dr Hassan Sanuth as the new Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), following growing concerns over persistent refuse accumulation across the state.

The reported development comes amid increasing public complaints about heaps of refuse on major roads, residential streets, road medians and drainage channels in several communities, despite the state government’s renewed efforts to improve waste collection and disposal.

However, as of the time of this report, relevant state authorities had yet to officially confirm the reported appointment or the circumstances surrounding the exit of the incumbent Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin.

Sources familiar with the development reportedly indicated that Governor Sanwo-Olu had become dissatisfied with the slow pace of waste evacuation across the state and had directed Gbadegesin to step down following persistent challenges in the sector.

According to reports, Gbadegesin was asked to resign over the weekend but was said to be seeking additional time to address the situation.

The reported appointment of Sanuth is expected to bring renewed attention to the management of municipal waste collection, environmental sanitation and the operational efficiency of LAWMA, pending official confirmation.

SANWO-OLU DECLARES WAR ON WASTE ACCUMULATION

The development follows the governor’s recent visit to the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the heaps of refuse across Lagos, describing the situation as embarrassing.

During the visit, Sanwo-Olu, accompanied by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, met with stakeholders in the waste management sector to assess operational challenges and develop immediate, medium-term and long-term solutions.

The governor subsequently ordered a comprehensive review of LAWMA’s operational structures and management while declaring a state of emergency on waste management.

He attributed part of the challenges to the failure of some Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to meet their waste collection obligations in the weeks preceding the intervention.

Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that waste compaction activities were ongoing at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites, noting that completing the projects would improve evacuation capacity and facilitate more efficient disposal operations.

According to the governor, the completion of the projects would enable each dumpsite to receive approximately 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, significantly improving the capacity of PSP operators.

Although recent fire incidents at the dumpsites reportedly slowed operations, the governor assured residents that work had resumed, with contractors working to restore normal operations.

RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO RAISE CONCERNS

Despite the government’s intervention, residents in several parts of Lagos continue to report refuse accumulation, raising concerns about environmental sanitation, public health and the effectiveness of existing waste collection arrangements.

Communities in Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2 have reportedly experienced varying degrees of waste collection challenges.

The accumulation of decomposing refuse along streets, major highways and drainage channels has generated renewed calls for more effective waste evacuation, regular collection schedules and improved monitoring of service providers.

The situation has intensified pressure on the state’s waste management authorities to ensure that emergency clearance operations translate into sustainable and consistent waste collection across all communities.

GBADEGESIN REPORTS PROGRESS IN SOME AREAS

Meanwhile, Gbadegesin recently reported progress in waste clearance and collection activities across selected locations in Lagos.

In a weekly update published on his X account on Saturday, the LAWMA chief disclosed that Mile 2 had been cleared, with routine collection services sustained in the area.

He also announced the deployment of three additional trucks to Doyin-Orile and its surrounding communities.

According to the update, daily waste collection continued along Ijesha Road and in Itire-Ikate, while Bucknor-Ijegun had been cleared and placed on a three-times-weekly collection schedule.

Gbadegesin further stated that Okeira and Oluodo had been placed under LAWMA’s interim service following the termination of their PSP arrangements, while collection activities continued at Ogolonto and Igbokusu.

He added that Obalende had been cleared, provided with a waste bin and placed under surveillance, while clearance operations continued at Iraye.

The former LAWMA managing director also identified Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu-Ejigbo Road and the Isheri-Igando corridor as locations awaiting field updates.

He emphasised that the objective of the intervention was to move beyond the removal of visible refuse to ensuring sustained collection and preventing a recurrence of the problem.

Gbadegesin was reappointed to lead LAWMA by Governor Sanwo-Olu following the governor’s re-election.

MEET DR HASSAN SANUTH, THE REPORTED SUCCESSOR

Dr Hassan A. Sanuth is an environmental management professional with more than 23 years of public service experience.

He holds a PhD in Environmental Microbiology and a master’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan.

His areas of research interest include epidemiology, biodegradation, bioremediation and environmental monitoring.

Sanuth has also obtained professional certificates in Environmental Monitoring and Modelling from the Institute for Water Education in Delft, the Netherlands, and Multilevel Water Governance from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.

Throughout his career, he has served in various environmental management and protection departments, including pollution control, billing and monitoring, conservation, and ecology.

He also served as Nigeria’s focal point for environment under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization-sponsored Collaborative Action for Sustainable Tourism programme in sub-Saharan Africa.

Sanuth is affiliated with several professional bodies, including the Science Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Environmental Society and the American Society for Microbiology. He is also an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Management.

His reported appointment comes at a critical period for Lagos, as the state continues to grapple with the challenges of municipal waste collection, disposal infrastructure and environmental sustainability.

THE CHALLENGE AHEAD

As Lagos continues to expand in population and economic activity, effective waste management remains essential to protecting public health, maintaining environmental cleanliness and preventing the blockage of drainage channels.

The reported leadership change at LAWMA, if officially confirmed, will place renewed responsibility on the incoming management to strengthen operational efficiency, improve accountability among PSP operators and ensure that waste collection services reach communities consistently.

For residents, the priority remains clear: cleaner streets, properly managed dumpsites, reliable waste collection and a sustainable system capable of preventing the recurrence of refuse accumulation across the state.

NOTE: The reported appointment of Dr Hassan Sanuth and the circumstances surrounding Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin’s exit had not been officially confirmed by the relevant state authorities as of the time of filing this report.

Credit: Vanguard Newspaper

Reported by: Lagostrend Media