Some Lagos residents have attributed their preference for cart pushers to the ineffectiveness of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators in ensuring prompt refuse evacuation.
They, however, urged LAWMA to ensure effective waste evacuation in 2025 to prevent the spread of dirts and health hazards.
The residents disclosed this in separate interviews on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Lagos.
They tasked LAWMA to spread their waste evacuation net to accommodate more residents as cart pushers cash in on the gap to make brisk business.
Mrs Joan Obasi, a FESTAC resident, said LAWMA had not been visible in their area, making many residents to prefer cart pushers.
“The LAWMA thing has not really worked for us, it works for the traders at the market because they force them. LAWMA tried forcing it on us, the residents, several times in FESTAC but it didn’t work.
“When we were using LAWMA, we expected them to come every Tuesday but they never showed up.
“You can keep your waste outside for more than two days and they won’t come.
“We prefer to use the cart pushers because they are readily available.
“I would have preferred that LAWMA comes because of all the benefits, but the truth is that it doesn’t really work for us here.
“Another challenge is that LAWMA PSP will not come to carry your wastes if you are not at home,” Obasi said.
Also speaking, Mercy Ogunjobi, a Dopemu resident, said that LAWMA had not been consistent in the area.
Ogunjobi said that LAWMA had the practice of evacuating their waste once in a month, “but barely showed up.”
“We complained but there has been no change. They usually complain about the cost of diesel to power their vehicles.
“I don’t think that is an excuse because the LAWMA rate keeps increasing.
“I think they can do better,” Ogunjobi said.
For Dorcas Ikechukwu, a resident of Shasha, a suburb of Lagos, said that LAWMA had the practice of coming once in two or three months to evacuate their wastes.
“We hardly see them. So, we rely on the cart pushers to evacuate our wastes.
“We appeal to LAWMA to up their game because littering the environment comes with lots of health hazards,” Ikechukwu said.
Akunne Obiora, who resides along the Ago Palace Way, Okota, said majority of streets in the area make use of the cart pushers because they are readily available and efficient.
“LAWMA do not carry our refuse. We make use of the cart pushers that passes our streets everyday.
“Where we usually see LAWMA is the major road, that is, Ago Palace Way and they usually evacute waste that has been pilled up along that road.
“Sometimes, they delay in coming to evacuate the refuse, but they do come.
“LAWMA come when people are not around and it is not convenient for us,” she said.
For Lilian Agunbiade, a resident of Aboru, LAWMA has remained averagely consistent.
“They come every week, but sometimes we don’t see them.
There are a few places where refuse litter the environment because of the population density of the area.
Rosemary Ani, a resident of Bucknor, along Jakande Estate/Ijegun corridor, said “I don’t use LAWMA because I have not really seen them.”
“Though my landlord told me that they come every Saturday,” Ani said.
She said that majority of the residents in the neighbourhood have their waste bins outside their compounds.
“Sometimes, it will be full to the brim before LAWMA will come to evacuate them
Mr Benjamin Mordi, a resident of Jakande Estate, said that LAWMA PSP’s have been regular at the estate.
A resident of Lekki Phase One said that LAWMA had been very effective.
She attributed their effectiveness to the nature of the neighbourhood highbrow area.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs, LAWMA, Mrs Folashade Kadiri, disclosed that LAWMA is dedicated to ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment by improving waste management practices and encouraging collaboration between citizens and the government.
Kadiri described proper waste disposal as a shared responsibility.
She condemned the use of illegal cart pushers who contribute to indiscriminate dumping of refuse, causing environmental damage and flooding.
She noted that as part of effort to address waste challenges, LAWMA would enforce environmental laws through a robust monitoring team and as well strengthen the operations of PSPs to ensure timely waste collection.
“The agency also promotes the Adopt-a-Bin initiative, encouraging households and businesses to use smart waste bins to reduce illegal dumping and pollution.
“LAWMA remains proactive in adapting strategies to meet the city’s growing waste management needs and urges residents to report waste-related issues through its toll-free lines.
“By working together, Lagosians can foster a cleaner and more sustainable city,” Kadiri said.
By Fabian Ekeruche
