In a bold step to tackle indiscriminate dumping of waste by the roads and public places, the Lagos State Government has inaugurated a special task force to oversee the immediate evacuation of refuse across the metropolis.

The move followed residents’ outcries over the surging waste across the roads, motor parks, bus stops and garages in the metropolis, with the attendant health implications.

Speaking over the weekend at an emergency stakeholder meeting with leaders of transport unions in Alausa, Ikeja, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the initiative became necessary due to the persistent abuse of public spaces by some residents and operators.

According to him, the move is part of renewed efforts to restore cleanliness and environmental order in Africa’s most populous city as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directs a 24-hour scale-up of waste evacuation operations across the state.

However, the commissioner noted that while the state government remains committed to enforcing environmental laws, the cooperation of transport unions is indispensable, given their strategic presence across the state.

“We cannot be on every road 24 hours a day. We are not abandoning this responsibility to you, nor are we doing it alone. What we are asking for is collaboration because this fight is not for the government alone, it is for all of us,” he explained.

Therefore, “in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), some of your union members will act as our waste police,” Osiyemi added, warning that henceforth, there would be consequences for individuals found engaging in illegal waste disposal.

He further urged transport union leaders to take charge of their garages, bus stops and parks by ensuring they are clean, orderly and free from illegal activities, adding, “before you can enforce discipline outside, your own garages and bus stops must be in order.”

Also frowning at the indiscriminate trading and erection of makeshift structures at parks, the commissioner said such activities contribute significantly to waste generation and environmental degradation, adding that “this is totally unacceptable.”

Addressing the complaints of non-evacuation of waste by PSP operators, Osiyemi acknowledged the challenges posed by the landfills and infrequent collection of household waste, but warned that it should not be an excuse to dump refuse on highways, medians and public places. He further urged the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to rise to the occasion and ensure a remarkable improvement in waste evacuation from households.

Also speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Sam Egube, described transport operators as key stakeholders in maintaining public order and security, urging them to support environmental sanitation enforcement efforts.

According to him, “all over the world, transport workers are part of the security architecture of society. They are major sources of information. The people who commit crimes move on our roads, in our vehicles, and through our parks. When you see something, say something. No individual can outsmart all of us working together.”

Egube noted that Governor Sanwo-Olu believes Lagos can overcome its environmental and social challenges if all stakeholders rise to protect the city and enforce responsible behaviour.

On his part, the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, urged collective support to ensure a refuse-free and cleaner Lagos, even as he disclosed that Lagos generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily.

Praising the transport unions for moving over 22 million commuters daily with a high level of organisation and discipline, he added that such capacity should also be deployed in supporting environmental sustainability.

Responding on behalf of the transport unions, leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria pledged their cooperation, while calling for a structured engagement platform to enhance monitoring and response across transport corridors.