The Lagos State Government has disputed reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appointed Dr. Hassan Sanuth as the new Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), following claims that the incumbent, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, had been asked to resign over persistent waste management challenges across the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the reported appointment as untrue, although he declined to provide further details.
The denial follows reports that Sanwo-Olu was dissatisfied with the continued accumulation of refuse on major roads, residential streets and drainage channels despite government directives to improve waste collection.
According to sources cited by Vanguard, the governor had reportedly asked Gbadegesin to resign over the weekend, while the outgoing managing director was said to be seeking additional time to address the challenges.
“The directives aim at addressing the waste challenges in the state,” a source told Vanguard.
However, the reported leadership change remains disputed following Wahab’s response.
Sanwo-Olu Declares Emergency on Waste Management
The reported development comes amid renewed concerns about waste collection and disposal across Lagos.
About a month earlier, Sanwo-Olu visited the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the heaps of refuse across the state, describing the situation as embarrassing.
Accompanied by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the governor met with stakeholders in the waste management sector to assess the challenges affecting municipal waste collection and identify immediate, medium-term and long-term solutions.
During the visit, Sanwo-Olu ordered an overhaul of LAWMA’s operational structures and management and declared a state of emergency on waste management.
He attributed part of the problem to the failure of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to meet their obligations in the preceding weeks.
The governor also disclosed that waste compaction activities were ongoing at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites. He said completing the projects would help speed up waste evacuation and improve disposal capacity.
According to him, the completion of the projects would enable each dumpsite to receive approximately 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the capacity available to PSP operators.
He added that recent fire incidents at the dumpsites had slowed operations but that work had resumed to prepare the facilities for daily waste disposal.
Refuse Accumulation Persists Across Lagos Communities
Despite the government’s interventions, residents have continued to report waste accumulation in several parts of Lagos, including Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2.
The complaints concern decomposing refuse along streets, road medians, major highways and drainage channels, raising concerns about sanitation and the effectiveness of waste collection services.
A source familiar with the matter said the governor was dissatisfied that conditions had not improved despite earlier directives.
“The governor was upset when he observed that the situation had not improved despite his clear directive,” the source said.
The source further claimed that Gbadegesin was appealing for more time and seeking the intervention of prominent individuals.
Gbadegesin Reports Progress on Waste Collection
In a weekly waste management update published on his X account on Saturday, Gbadegesin reported progress in clearing affected locations and maintaining collection services on selected routes.
He said Mile 2 had been cleared and routine collection sustained, while three additional trucks had been deployed to Doyin-Orile and surrounding areas.
“11 of the 15 routes in this week’s programme now have field updates,” he wrote.
According to the update, daily waste collection had continued on Ijesha Road and Itire-Ikate, while Bucknor-Ijegun had been cleared and placed on a three-times-weekly collection schedule.
Gbadegesin also said Okeira and Oluodo had been placed under LAWMA’s interim service following the termination of their PSP arrangements. Collection services were also continuing at Ogolonto and Igbokusu.
Obalende, he added, had been cleared, provided with a waste bin and placed under surveillance, while clearance operations continued at Iraye.
The LAWMA managing director identified Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu-Ejigbo Road and the Isheri-Igando corridor as the four routes awaiting field updates.
“The objective is to progress from clearance to sustained collection and prevention of recurrence, not simply remove visible waste,” he said.
Gbadegesin was reappointed to lead LAWMA by Sanwo-Olu following the governor’s re-election.
Who Is Dr. Hassan Sanuth?
Dr. Hassan A. Sanuth, whose reported appointment has been disputed by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment, previously served as Director of Sanitation Services in the Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
Sanuth holds a PhD in Environmental Microbiology and a master’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan.
His research interests include epidemiology, biodegradation, bioremediation and environmental monitoring.
He also holds certificates in Environmental Monitoring and Modelling from the Institute for Water Education in Delft, the Netherlands, and Multilevel Water Governance from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.
Sanuth has more than 23 years of public service experience, having worked in environmental management and protection departments covering pollution control, billing and monitoring, conservation, and ecology.
He also served as Nigeria’s focal point for environment under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation-sponsored Collaborative Action for Sustainable Tourism programme in sub-Saharan Africa.
His professional affiliations include the Science Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Environmental Society and the American Society for Microbiology. He is also an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
What Happens Next?
The reported leadership change has drawn attention to the continuing challenges facing waste collection and disposal in Lagos, particularly following the governor’s declaration of an emergency on waste management.
However, Wahab’s denial means the reported appointment of Sanuth should not be treated as confirmed.
The Lagos State Government’s next steps regarding LAWMA’s leadership, operational reforms and efforts to improve refuse collection remain important issues to watch as concerns over sanitation persist across the state.
This report will be updated if the Lagos State Government issues further clarification on LAWMA’s leadership.