The Lagos State Government has sought the partnership of members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) to tackle indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians and roadsides across the state.
The initiative was announced on Saturday during a joint press briefing addressed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and the Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, at the Ministry of Transportation in Alausa.
Osiyemi said the collaboration is aimed at leveraging the widespread presence of transport unions to strengthen monitoring and apprehend individuals involved in illegal waste disposal.
He said indiscriminate dumping of refuse poses serious environmental and public health risks, adding that the government would no longer tolerate the practice.
According to him, selected transport union members would be integrated into the state’s environmental enforcement framework to enhance surveillance and compliance.
“We have observed the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roadsides, and that is why we are partnering with transport unions because they have branches across Lagos State,” he said.
“We want members of parks and garages to serve as our eyes in monitoring those who dump refuse on the expressway and ensure they are apprehended.”
Osiyemi warned that offenders would be prosecuted under existing environmental laws.
Speaking at the briefing, Gbadegesin said Lagos could no longer tolerate the rising incidence of waste dumping on highways and public spaces.
“We must read a riot act to ourselves. From today, there must be no waste dumped on any road. With the support of the transport unions, we will achieve compliance,” he said.
He urged transport operators to turn back individuals attempting to dispose of waste illegally around garages and parks, adding that LAWMA would intensify waste evacuation efforts across the state.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the government would conduct routine inspections and sanction parks and garages found to be contributing to environmental violations.
Also speaking, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sam Egube, urged transport workers to serve as whistleblowers in efforts to curb illegal dumping.
The development comes days after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the immediate evacuation of refuse across Lagos following public complaints over mounting waste on roads, medians and communities.
In recent weeks, the Lagos State Government has intensified enforcement and waste evacuation operations, while warning residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains, roadsides and other unauthorised areas.
Officials say proper waste disposal remains critical to preventing flooding, protecting public health and maintaining environmental cleanliness in the state.
