In a bold move to strengthen public health and environmental safety across Lagos, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN), Lagos Chapter, have agreed to form a joint task force. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration between both bodies in driving sustainable waste management and enforcing environmental standards across the state.
The decision was reached during a strategic meeting at LAWMA headquarters in Ijora Olopa, where both parties reaffirmed their commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos.
LAWMA’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, hailed the partnership as a significant step toward bridging operational gaps and fostering a more proactive waste management ecosystem.
“Environmental health officers are foundational to the work we do at LAWMA,” Gbadegesin said. “They have direct impact on public health and community wellbeing. We’ve already embarked on transformative initiatives, including decommissioning outdated landfills and upgrading to transfer loading stations. We’re also expanding material recovery facilities across all local governments, and exploring waste-to-energy solutions.”
He emphasized recent enforcement successes, noting that 13 markets were recently shut down for environmental violations as part of the agency’s renewed commitment to cleaner public spaces.
EHOAN Lagos President, Dr. Cyril Akinyele Babasope, said the partnership is rooted in shared values of vigilance, environmental responsibility, and community engagement.
“We’re here to solidify our shared goal of improving environmental health outcomes in Lagos. As field officers, we serve as the link between regulations and the communities,” Babasope noted. “Forming joint task forces will allow us to proactively identify and solve problem areas while leveraging data and modern tools for smarter interventions.”
He stressed the urgent need for additional environmental health officers to be deployed for more effective monitoring, especially in curbing indiscriminate dumping of waste on road medians and public spaces.
Also speaking at the event, EHOAN’s National President, Dr. Samuel Akinbodunrin Akingbeyin, commended LAWMA’s efforts in managing waste for a population of over 25 million but emphasized the importance of reliable data to aid environmental officers in delivering measurable results.
“We’re trained to work with research and data,” Akingbeyin said. “With accurate data, we can be more efficient and precise in tackling environmental threats. LAWMA’s support in this area will go a long way.”
Dr. Gbadegesin acknowledged the call for enhanced data collaboration, revealing that LAWMA already has a dedicated Waste Management Research and Policy Development Department. He also promised to absorb and train more health officers.
“It’s time to revive the spirit of environmental stewardship we once had,” Gbadegesin said. “Through this synergy, we are confident that we can build a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Lagos.”
