Lagos to establish ‘waste police’ to enforce sanitation rules

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to create a “Waste Police” force to enforce environmental sanitation laws and curb the dumping of refuse on state roads.

A government statement said the administration has adopted a zero‑tolerance policy for waste disposal on Lagos roads, following a directive from Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo‑Olu to evacuate waste from the state’s road network.

The decision followed a meeting that brought together the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN).

The meeting, held on Saturday at the Ministry of Transportation, aimed to strengthen waste management and ensure cleanliness in motor parks, garages, and the surrounding roads across Lagos.

Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi told participants that transport unions must keep their parks and garages clean and discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal within their operational areas.

He added that the ministry would begin enforcement actions to maintain motor parks and ensure proper waste disposal.

Reiterating the government’s stance, Mr. Osiyemi said roads must not be used as refuse dumps and announced the establishment of a Waste Police composed of members from transport unions in all local government areas.

According to him, the Waste Police will monitor motor parks and their surroundings to prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Lagos State Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Sam Egube noted that transport operators in other parts of the world work closely with governments to manage transport infrastructure effectively. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate on waste‑management challenges in the state.

Hon. Sola Giwa called on NURTW and RTEAN to take full responsibility as partners in waste control by ensuring strict compliance in all motor parks and garages.

LAWMA Managing Director Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin thanked the transport unions for supporting the reintroduced environmental sanitation exercise and encouraged them to maintain their cooperation.

He noted that waste management cannot be handled by LAWMA alone, stressing the need for collaboration with transport unions whose members operate widely across the state.

Dr. Gbadegesin said LAWMA evacuates about 13,000 tons of waste daily across Lagos, while the transport unions move an estimated 22 million commuters every day. He stressed the need for collaboration between LAWMA and the unions to ensure proper waste disposal at motor parks and garages, while also discouraging indiscriminate trading in their parks and corridors.

He also urged continued cooperation to discourage indiscriminate trading and improper waste disposal in parks and surrounding areas, and called on unions to report violations for prompt action.

“LAWMA would continue to work closely with the unions, leveraging their presence across the State to monitor roads, motor parks and surrounding communities, urging them to report cases of indiscriminate waste disposal for prompt action,” Dr. Gbadegesin said.