Lagosians to pay more for waste disposal as LAWMA mulls 50% increase from Oct
by Ebor Cletus Ralph Jr
The Lagos Rubbish Management Authority (LAWMA) has proposed that the cost of waste pickup could increase by 50% as of October 1.
The LAWMA managing director, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, revealed the solution on Wednesday during a press conference in Lagos.
The conference covered the organization’s actions for the current fiscal year, recent challenges, solutions, and sustainability initiatives that had been put in place.
Odumboni claimed that the rise was required as a result of rising operational and administrative expenses, particularly the price of diesel and replacement parts for the trucks that waste management companies use to transport rubbish.
He continued that a tariff review was being examined in light of these facts and that a price hike of over 50% will begin on October 1.
He claimed that even though Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration intended to provide fuel subsidies to the Private Sector Participants (PSP) in the state’s trash disposal system, a review of waste disposal tariffs had become essential.
According to Odumboni, the recent increase in diesel prices, excessive rains, and a terrible attitude toward waste management all significantly increased operating costs.
He further asserted that the PSP operators and residents’ organisations will be permitted to set residential waste tariff increases, which LAWMA has set at a maximum of 50%.
“PSP, CDA/CDC and LAWMA will take part in the review process, we want to appeal to tenements, the quicker we resolve this the better it will be for us in terms of the percentage increase”.
The prolapsed increase in cost of waste disposal is coming at a time many Lagosians are lamenting the activities of the PSP operators.
Uncollected refuse has littered many streets and homes in the state due to the inability of the operators to ensure regular collection of the wastes. They have blamed the government for closing down some dump sites in the state forcing them to make use of the only available ones left.
They complain that their trucks have to queue for days before they could be emptied at the dump sites.
