By Emmanuel Akinola
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is set to deploy surveillance cameras at strategic locations across the state to strengthen the monitoring of illegal waste disposal, as authorities intensify efforts to address persistent environmental violations and improve sanitation in Africa’s most populous city.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed this during an interview on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM, explaining that the planned deployment would complement an existing partnership with the Lagos State Command Centre to monitor environmental offences within its coverage area.
He said the initiative was designed to deter indiscriminate dumping, assist in identifying offenders and support enforcement actions in accordance with the law. The authority is also seeking to change public attitudes towards waste disposal through sustained advocacy and improved collection services.
The move comes amid continuing concerns over illegal dumping at roadsides, drainage channels and other public spaces, where improperly discarded waste can obstruct drainage, worsen flooding risks and undermine environmental sanitation.
LAWMA’s 2025 waste surveillance statistics recorded 1,023 incidents of illegal dumping and other waste management violations, with 447 cases referred for legal action. The figures highlight the enforcement challenge facing the authority as it seeks to prevent offenders from returning to cleared locations. <Cite refs={[“turn310164search14”]}/>
Gbadegesin said technology alone would not resolve the problem, stressing that effective waste management required a combination of surveillance, enforcement, public awareness and reliable collection services.
As part of efforts to improve evacuation, he disclosed that the arrival of 150 new waste trucks would strengthen the collection and transportation of refuse across Lagos. The authority is also conducting house-to-house waste collection interventions to address accumulated refuse following the disengagement of underperforming Private Sector Participants (PSPs).
He urged residents to use approved waste collection operators, package their refuse properly and report cases of illegal dumping, noting that investment in equipment and infrastructure must be matched by responsible public behaviour.
The authority is also pursuing waste-to-energy initiatives, including plans to advance a proposed biogas plant, alongside improvements to transfer stations and material recovery facilities aimed at strengthening waste handling, sorting and recycling.
The effectiveness of the surveillance plan, however, will depend on the coverage of the cameras, the consistency of enforcement and the availability of accessible waste collection services. Sustained monitoring and transparent application of environmental regulations will be critical to ensuring that the initiative delivers lasting improvements rather than temporary relief at identified dumping hotspots.
