Lagos Generates 17,000 Tonnes of Waste Daily as LAWMA Battles Truck Shortage, Rising Diesel Costs

The worsening refuse situation across Lagos State may be more complicated than it appears, with Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat revealing that the state is generating far more waste than previously estimated.

Hamzat disclosed that Lagos now produces approximately 17,000 tonnes of waste daily, compared to the 13,000 tonnes initially projected by the state government.

Speaking on Nigerian Info 99.3 FM, the Deputy Governor stated that the unexpected increase has made waste collection and planning increasingly difficult.

He explained that the government cannot effectively manage a problem when the actual scale is not accurately known.

But the waste crisis is not only about the volume of refuse.

Hamzat also revealed that many of the private waste collection operators contracted by the state no longer have the required number of functional trucks.

According to him, Lagos has about 420 Private Sector Participants (PSPs), with each expected to operate at least two trucks—meaning more than 800 trucks should be available for refuse collection.

However, some operators have shut down, while others have lost vehicles to breakdowns and rising operating costs.

The soaring price of diesel has also compounded the problem, with some waste operators asking the government to approve higher tariffs.

Hamzat said the state rejected the proposed tariff increase but instead agreed to provide additional financial support to the operators.

The government, he added, has also ordered new waste collection trucks after discovering that many of the existing vehicles were no longer fit for service.

A total of 114 trucks are expected for the 57 local government and local council development areas, while an additional 100 trucks have also been ordered.

But there is a major setback—the delivery of the new vehicles, originally expected in July, has reportedly been shifted to September.

Hamzat said the delay has contributed to the current refuse collection challenges across the state.

The Deputy Governor also pointed to another often-overlooked source of waste: people living and conducting activities on the streets, saying their waste generation makes it even harder for authorities to determine the true volume of refuse produced in Lagos.

While acknowledging the shortcomings in the system, Hamzat defended the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), saying it would be unfair to blame the agency entirely for the crisis.

He admitted that the government may have needed to act earlier, adding that authorities must take responsibility for addressing the situation.

With waste generation rising, collection trucks falling short and the delivery of new vehicles delayed, Lagos residents may have to wait longer before the state's refuse management system returns to full strength.