LAWMA allays Lagos residents’ fear over planned dump sites’ closure

The Lagos State Waste Management Authority has reassured residents that the proposed permanent shutdown of the Olusosun dump site in Ojota and the Solous landfill in Ìgandò will not disrupt waste management services across the state.

LAWMA had attributed the planned closure and evacuation of the dump sites, set to begin in December 2024 and extend for 18 months, to the state government’s drive to convert the waste sites into renewable energy stations.

During a stakeholders’ engagement programme on sustainable waste management held at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island on Thursday, LAWMA’s Managing Director, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, noted that the shutdown was a part of the state’s efforts to tackle the environmental and health issues associated with those sites.

However, some Lagos residents expressed concerns about the planned shutdown of the dump sites, fearing that their permanent closure could disrupt waste management services throughout the state.
In an exclusive response to PUNCH Metro’s enquiries on Sunday on the potential disruption of waste management services during the 18-month closure, Gbadegesin said the state would establish transfer loading stations at the Olusosun and Solous landfills and the Material Recovery Facilities in Ikorodu and Badagry for flawless waste management services.

Gbadegesin said, “During this period, LAWMA will implement a well-structured waste management system to ensure that waste collection and processing continue without disruption.

“Key to this plan is the construction of transfer loading stations at both sites. Waste will be transported from these stations to the material recovery facilities that will be built in Ikorodu and Badagry.
“These facilities will process the waste, converting recyclables into valuable materials. So, Lagos residents will not experience any interruption in waste management services during the decommissioning period.”
The LAWMA boss informed our correspondent that the MRFs in Ikorodu and Badagry would be the main facilities for processing waste previously directed to the decommissioned landfills.

Gbadegesin added that the planned construction of transfer loading stations at both Olusosun and Solous would enable the state to efficiently direct waste to these MRFs.

Our correspondent learnt that the planned transfer loading stations at Olusosun and Solous, along with the MRF’s, would serve as key alternatives during the 18 months.

He added, “The key alternatives include the transfer loading stations to be constructed at Olusosun and Solous and the MRFs planned for Ikorodu and Badagry.

“These facilities will ensure that waste is processed efficiently, converting much of it into recyclable materials rather than letting it accumulate in dumpsites.

“In line with our sustainability goals, we are pushing for greater adoption of the two-bin system across Lagos, which promotes proper waste segregation, leading to less waste being sent to landfills in the first place.”
Gbadegesin stated that officials from the Private Sector Partnership, commonly known as PSP operators and other key stakeholders were being consulted on the decommissioning process to ensure a smooth transition of the sites into renewable energy stations.