LAWMA probes alleged PSP billing hike in Abule Egba following complaints of excessive charges and 50% planned increase. Affected residents demand answers

LAWMA probes alleged PSP billing hike in Abule Egba after residents and shop owners raised alarm over a sudden and unapproved increase in monthly waste bills, with some claiming charges have skyrocketed by over 900 percent.

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Residents and business owners on Adewunmi Adu Street told PUNCH Metro on Monday that they had received notices of the increment and, in some cases, bills several times higher than usual.

One shop owner, Mrs Mutiyat Alimi, who operates two shops, said she usually paid ₦1,500 monthly at a rate of ₦750 per shop. However, she was shocked to receive a ₦15,000 bill recently—an increase of over 900 percent.

“Other shops are still being charged ₦800 monthly. I went to the PSP operator’s office at Ile Ogbo, Anifowose Street, three times. The secretary kept telling me the manager was not available,” she said.

According to her, when she eventually met the manager, she was told the high bill was deliberate. “They said I generate a lot of waste. But I sell frozen food. I barely produce more than two bin bags,” she explained.

Alimi said her bill was later reduced to ₦13,000, but she still considered it unreasonably high. A bill seen by our correspondent indicated she had been charged ₦26,000 for May and June 2025.

Another shop owner, Mrs Lagbokun Folasade, said she once received a ₦46,000 bill in 2024 and claimed the PSP operator threatened to seal her shop if she refused to pay.

“Now they barely collect refuse twice a month, yet they charge ₦12,000 or ₦15,000. Life is hard already, and this is making it worse,” she said.

A water sachet producer in the area reportedly received a ₦25,000 bill. Similarly, a small church in the community, according to a member who spoke anonymously, saw its waste bill rise from ₦1,000 to ₦21,000 monthly.

“In our compound, the church used to pay ₦2,000 every two months. Suddenly, they brought ₦21,000 for one month and claimed it was due to the 50% increase,” the church member alleged.

Our reporter saw a notice stapled to several waste bills indicating a 50% increment set to begin in July 2025. One resident who pays ₦750 monthly said she was told to prepare for a ₦1,125 charge going forward.

“I also live on this street. For my flat, I currently pay ₦4,000 every two months. Now they say it will be ₦6,000,” she said.

When contacted, LAWMA’s officer in charge of PSP operators, Dr Tunde Semanta, confirmed he had received the complaint and promised to investigate.