Lagos reopens Igando dumpsite amid waste disposal crisis

The Lagos State Government has reopened the Igando dumpsite as part of efforts to address persistent waste disposal challenges across the state.

The facility is expected to receive at least 100 waste trucks daily, easing pressure on operators and improving refuse evacuation in communities across the Lagos West Senatorial District.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Wednesday during an inspection of the facility.

Wahab said the dumpsite, which had been closed, was restored following discussions between the ministry and waste management operators.

He explained that the reopening was part of the state government’s emergency response to the waste management challenges, adding that plans were also underway to establish additional disposal facilities in Badagry and Epe.

According to the commissioner, Igando would serve the Lagos West axis, while the Olusosun dumpsite would handle waste generated in the eastern part of the state.

He urged Private Sector Participation waste operators to improve their services, particularly in communities where residents had complained about irregular refuse collection.

“Once they pay for a service, let the PSP operators do the right thing. The right thing is to collect the waste,” Wahab said.

Also speaking, the National President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Olugbenga Adebola, said the reopening would improve waste collection, particularly across the Alimosho axis.

Adebola explained that the closure of accessible disposal facilities had forced some operators to transport collected refuse to Sagamu, more than 120 kilometres outside Lagos.

He said the association would direct its members to increase their collection efforts and make use of the restored facility.

The AWAMN president disclosed that the association had a fleet of nearly 700 trucks, stressing that functional disposal sites were necessary for effective waste evacuation.

He also appealed to the state government to rehabilitate other proposed disposal facilities in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry.

Adebola, however, warned that some areas, particularly Ikorodu, could continue to experience waste disposal difficulties until their dumpsites were reopened.