… Sanitation crews deploy across Ikorodu, Maryland, Alapere, and Lagos Island in sustained environmental offensive
Babajide Fadoju
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to environmental cleanliness as officials worked through the night into the early hours of the morning, clearing over 20 blackspots across multiple corridors of the metropolis. The overnight operation, which saw sanitation crews deployed from the BRT terminal in Ikorodu to the walkways of Maryland, from Alapere to Lagos Island, reflects the Authority’s determination to ensure that no community is left behind in the pursuit of a cleaner Lagos.
In the Ikorodu corridor, LAWMA crews cleared the BRT terminal outward garage, the stretch opposite Glo office, the area opposite Total filling station, and Benson bus stop, all before daybreak. The exercise also covered Ifako bus stop, Ogudu bus stop, and the Alapere road opposite AP Filling Station, where the accumulated waste had become an eyesore for residents and motorists. Each location was systematically evacuated, with compactors moving through the night to clear the refuse that had defaced these busy thoroughfares.
The Maryland axis received significant attention, with crews clearing the walkways, Small Estate gate junction, Akerele Street junction, and Olade Benson gate junction. The walkways along Maryland, which had become notorious for accumulated refuse, were restored to cleanliness, while the various junctions that had served as illegal dumpsites were fully evacuated. The night operation also extended to Shiro junction in Fadeyi, Idiroko bus stop, the old LASTMA office, and Anthony under bridge, all of which were cleared before the morning rush hour.
The overnight operation also covered Abiola Garden and Alapere bus stop, ensuring that these public spaces were restored to dignity. The clearing of these locations is part of LAWMA’s broader strategy of conducting night operations to minimise disruption to daytime traffic and commerce while maximising the impact of sanitation interventions. The exercise, which began late on June 23 and continued into the early hours of June 24, underscores the Authority’s resolve to tackle environmental challenges with the urgency they deserve.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, commended the sanitation crews for their dedication and sacrifice, noting that working through the night is a testament to their commitment to the service of Lagos. He urged residents to support these efforts by patronising approved PSP operators and avoiding indiscriminate waste disposal, emphasising that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
Dr. Gbadegesin reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to continuously improving waste management services across the State, assuring residents that the ongoing interventions would be sustained until every blackspot in Lagos is cleared. He noted that the deployment of additional resources, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) compactor trucks and the optimisation of Transfer Loading Stations, would further enhance the Authority’s capacity to deliver efficient and effective waste evacuation services.
As Lagos continues its march toward a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future, LAWMA remains at the forefront of the battle against environmental degradation, working day and night to ensure that the vision of a #CleanerLagos becomes a reality for all residents.
