By Lagos, Nigeria- Some residents have taken to the comment section of a recent Lagos State Government post to complain about the non-availability of Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators in their neighbourhoods.
According to several reactions, heaps of refuse have remained uncollected for days, with residents expressing frustration over what they described as irregular or completely absent waste collection services. Many called on the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the state government to urgently intervene to prevent environmental and health risks.
Private Sector Participation (PSP) in waste collection and transportation in Lagos State has been in existence since 1997 under the Ministry of the Environment, when a pilot scheme was introduced in two Local Government Areas — Kosofe and Bariga.The programme was expanded to other areas in 1999 but experienced setbacks in 2002 due to poor management. Following a review in 2004, new mega PSP operators were appointed to provide services across 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas based on technical capacity.In May 2005, a new management team was appointed for LAWMA with a mandate to rid Lagos of filth and improve the delivery of solid waste services to residents.
Despite this structure, recent complaints from residents suggest that some communities may not be enjoying regular PSP services. Citizens are urging the authorities to monitor operators more closely and ensure that every area receives efficient waste collection.Today, several citizens took to the comment sections of posts on the Lagos State Government’s official social media handles to complain about the non-availability of Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators in their areas.
Effective waste management is essential for public health, environmental safety, and the overall image of Lagos as a megacity. As residents continue to raise concerns, stakeholders are expected to respond swiftly to address service gaps and restore confidence in the PSP waste collection system.
