Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered immediate waste evacuation across the state following complaints of refuse accumulation in several areas

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation operations across Lagos following growing public concerns over refuse accumulation in parts of the state.

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The directive was issued on Thursday 18 June 2026, with the governor instructing relevant agencies to work round the clock to clear backlogs and improve sanitation.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, the state government acknowledged residents’ complaints and assured Lagosians that the matter was receiving urgent attention from the highest level.

“The Lagos State Government acknowledges the concerns of residents regarding the recent accumulation of refuse in some parts of the state and wishes to assure Lagosians that the situation is receiving the highest level of attention from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the entire machinery of government,” the statement said.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has mobilised additional resources and directed the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), and other agencies to intensify operations.

The government noted that Lagos generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, one of the highest volumes on the African continent. It described the current situation as temporary and said substantial progress had already been made in several locations.

“We wish to reassure residents that this challenge is temporary. Indeed, substantial progress is already being recorded in several locations, and more improvements will become visible across the state in the days ahead,” the statement added.

Residents, market associations, businesses, and community leaders have been urged to support the effort by disposing of waste properly and avoiding actions that block drainage channels and collection points.