Lagos State is facing a major leadership shake-up over waste management failures as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has ordered the LAWMA boss to step down.
The governor’s decision follows months of growing frustration over uncollected refuse.
An insider revealed the governor’s patience had finally run out, according to the source, Sanwo-Olu grew upset after seeing little improvement despite clear directives.
“The governor was at the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota a month ago and was dissatisfied with the state of things. He gave instructions that immediate action be taken on the matter, as he has declared a state of emergency on waste management,” the source said.
The situation worsened despite those earlier warnings from the governor, according to the insider, this ultimately led to the resignation request.
“The governor was upset when he observed that the situation had not improved despite his clear directive. So, over the weekend, he asked him to resign, although he is begging and has reached out to some prominent Lagosians to beg on his behalf,” the source said.
The LAWMA boss resignation demand comes after months of mounting complaints from residents, since August 2025, refuse has piled up across several Lagos communities.
Areas like Mushin, Egbeda, and Ajegunle have seen worsening waste collection problems; residents have struggled with decomposing refuse along roads and drainage channels.
Sanwo-Olu previously declared a state of emergency on waste collection in September. He visited the Olusosun dumpsite personally to assess the growing crisis.
He acknowledged that private waste operators had failed to meet their obligations; the governor also cited dumpsite fires as a factor slowing recovery efforts.
According to him, completing ongoing projects would boost daily waste capacity significantly. He expects dumpsites to eventually handle about 450 trucks each day.
Despite these plans, refuse accumulation has continued across many communities, and public concern over sanitation and health risks continues to grow louder.
Meanwhile, Gbadegesin shared updates on recent cleanup efforts through social media, he confirmed major progress in areas like Mile 2 and Doyin-Orile.
He explained that several routes now have improved and sustained collection services. However, some areas, including Apapa, still await further updates.
However, Gbadegesin had been reappointed to his position following Sanwo-Olu’s re-election.
