Lagos State governor declares a “small state of emergency” over waste crisis
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Nigeria announced the introduction of what he called a “small state of emergency” due to the worsening situation with waste collection and removal. Authorities have ordered 160 new compactor garbage trucks, plan to restore the operation of additional waste unloading sites and increase the capacity of the Olusosun landfill.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, the governor announced the decision during an inspection of the Olusosun landfill. Queues of garbage trucks form there, while unloading delays reduce the number of trips vehicles can make to residential areas.
Increasing capacity
The landfill currently receives approximately 250–350 trucks per day. The state government intends to raise this figure to 350–450 vehicles. To speed up unloading, the number of waste reception points at Olusosun is planned to increase from two or three to four or five.
Sanwo-Olu said deliveries of the 160 ordered compactors are expected to begin soon. Zoomlion, which is involved in the state’s waste management system, is also expected to acquire additional garbage trucks. In addition, the government plans to purchase equipment for compacting waste at landfills.
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Sites and private operators
To reduce the burden on Olusosun, authorities plan to restore operations at the Solu 3 site in Alimosho, Iwulepe in Ikorodu, Oke Osho in Epe and Erikitte in Badagry. Stabilization and grading are to be carried out on the access road to Solu 3; completion of the work is expected in two to three weeks. Similar work is planned at Iwulepe and Oke Osho.
According to the governor, within approximately six weeks the government expects to ensure the operation of four active waste unloading sites. Authorities will also review the Private Sector Participation scheme, under which private operators provide a significant share of household waste collection and transportation. The government will separately assess the operators’ technical capabilities, financial capacity and available equipment.
In the long term, the state, together with Zoomlion, is developing waste transfer and sorting infrastructure. A 2,400-metric-ton transfer station is being built at Olusosun, while another such station is planned at Solu 3. Material recovery facilities are being created at Oke Osho and Erikitte; their launch is expected between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter of 2027.
