Lagos taken over by heaps of refuse, debts, rickety LAWMA compactor fingered
Investigations by Business Hilights across key local governments and environs in parts of Lagos State have shown total collapse of solid waste management due to irregularity of visits by LAWMA compactor vehicles.
Again, additional discoveries showed that over 90 per cent of the compactors managed by PSP operators are either too old to effectively work or are not well maintained.
Besides, it was also revealed that many residents are no more paying their LAWMA bills as and when due and the pile up of debts is frustrating operators in raising funds to maintain their vehicles and pay workers.
Accordingly, they have resorted to dumping their refuse along major highways because LAWMA trucks are no more coming for some months now.
Another factor that is discouraging private sector investments in the sector according to observations by some of the operators is uncertainty over their chances of survival should the state government go ahead to implement its new waste management policy which many of the PSP said they are yet to decode what the government is doing.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, few months ago rolled out a new waste management roadmap, but nothing has happened since that, thus creating a scenario of confusion for operators of PSP.
Some of them said they have to halt further investment to avoid being caught unawares.
Unfortunately, as the waiting game lasts, the state is becoming vulnerable to epidemics.
A visit to Apapa and environs shows that residents are currently on the mercy of epidermics.
Currently, major roads such as the ever busy Wharf Road, Liverpool Road, Point Road, Creek Road and Burma Road are not spared. It appears officials of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Apapa Local Government have gone to sleep or perhaps no longer reckon with the need to clear the piling rubbish in the port city.
Many of the residents disclosed that they cannot remember when last they saw LAWMA around as everywhere fumes with violent smell.
It is now normal way of life for street and road users in the port city and nation’s economic gateway to cover their nose with their hands while on the streets and roads.
The same scenario is playing out in parts of Surulere, Obalende, Epe, Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Festac Town, Satellite town and so many other key populous districts.
Efforts to sought the views of any top LAWMA official failed as only the Front Desk officer, one Mr. Ola responded both during a visit and several calls, saying “I have informed the PR department of your visit and given them your details including your complementary card; so I cannot do more than that or direct them on what to do sir”.
