Lagos is battling a worsening waste management crisis as inaccessible dumpsites slow refuse evacuation, leaving streets littered with waste, worsening flooding risks and exposing residents to serious environmental and public health hazards, writes ANOZIE EGOLE
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial centre, has in recent months experienced severe flooding, with many blaming it on indiscriminate refuse disposal that has clogged drainage channels and hindered the free flow of floodwater.
In recent weeks, flooding has destroyed numerous properties across Lagos, including homes, vehicles and other valuables, on both the mainland and the island.
Although many people blamed indiscriminate refuse disposal for the problem, waste management experts argued that the shortage of accessible dumpsites is another major factor contributing to the accumulation of refuse across Lagos.
They explained that the state’s existing dumpsite has reached capacity and is no longer easily accessible, making it extremely difficult for Private Sector Participation operators to dispose of collected waste.
