Lagos Deputy Governor Discusses Waste Management Crisis

Obafemi Hamzat, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, addressed the city's waste management challenges during an interview on Nigerian Info 99.3FM. He stated that the worsening waste situation is due to increased waste generation, a shortage of functional waste collection trucks, and difficulties faced by private waste operators.

Initially, the Lagos State government estimated daily waste generation at 13,000 tonnes, but it has since been revised to approximately 17,000 tonnes. Hamzat emphasized that this discrepancy has hindered effective planning and management of refuse collection.

He noted that accurate data is crucial for addressing waste management issues. Additionally, he pointed out that individuals living on the streets contribute to the waste volume, complicating accurate assessments.

Hamzat mentioned that there are about 420 Private Sector Participants (PSPs) involved in waste collection, each expected to have at least two trucks, totaling over 800 trucks needed. However, many operators lack the required number of functional trucks.