Sanitation: LAWMA boss advocates adopt-a-street initiative

• Tasks private firms to embrace community sanitation as CSR
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has called on private organisations and residents to adopt streets and communities as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to enhance environmental cleanliness across Lagos State.

Gbadegesin, who spoke on both Lagos Television’s ‘The Conversation’ and Channels TV’s ‘Sunrise’ programmes yesterday, emphasised the importance of community involvement in maintaining sanitation.

He urged businesses and individuals to play a more active role in the cleanliness of their immediate environments.

“Adopting a street or community is an excellent way for organisations to contribute meaningfully to the city’s cleanliness efforts. It goes beyond just placing bins; it’s about taking responsibility for the cleanliness and maintenance of entire neighbourhoods. This initiative will also serve as a strong CSR strategy, benefiting both the environment and the organisations involved,” he explained.

Gbadegesin also linked the recent cholera outbreak to poor environmental practices such as open defecation and illegal waste disposal, stressing that these could be mitigated through sustained community sanitation efforts.

He said: “Sanitation should be a daily habit ingrained in our culture, and this is what we should teach our children.”

Speaking on the ongoing community clean-up campaign by LAWMA and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, he said: “What we are doing right now is sensitisation, and yes, the monthly sanitation exercise is coming back. We are going from community to community, engaging with local stakeholders, and addressing residents’ challenges.”

The LAWMA boss also stressed that the agency is moving forward with the ‘Adopt a Bin’ programme, which encourages households to containerise their waste effectively.

“The new LAWMA smart bins are revolutionising household waste management. We aim for every home to have a bin, making it easier for residents to contain their waste properly. To make this accessible, we have introduced a 24-month instalment plan.

“What sets these bins apart is their smart technology. Each bin is equipped with an RFID tag and geolocation capabilities. This allows us to track when bins are empty, ensuring efficient service from our operators,” he said.

Gbadegesin further highlighted the state government’s collaboration with the private sector to enhance waste disposal facilities, including a memorandum of understanding with Jospong Group to build material recovery facilities and modern landfills in Lagos.

He said LAWMA is also working with local government authorities to establish community recycling centres, provide residents with dedicated spaces to dispose of recyclables, and offer incentives.

He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to improving the welfare of street sweepers, noting that the agency is implementing health insurance and skill development programmes for its sweepers.

On the LAWMA Academy, he said the agency is teaching the next generation about the value of recycling and maintaining a clean environment.

“We have an ongoing summer school that will last for a month, and in the next few months, we are going to open a portal for online classes with certification on the LAWMA Academy website,” he added.