Residents across Lagos State have raised alarms over irregular waste collection services by Private Sector Participants (PSPs), citing health hazards and environmental challenges.
In Ikorodu, businesswoman Miss Adekoya Toyosi revealed that PSP operators no longer follow predictable schedules. “Collection sometimes drops from three times a month to just once.
When waste accumulates, we use gutters during rains or burn it under the sun,” she said. Residents reportedly pay between ₦500 and ₦700 per collection, depending on waste volume.
Human resource practitioner Mr Timilehin Ogunnariwo noted that PSP trucks often arrive already full, leaving smaller streets unattended. “I use three drums in my compound, but rats scatter waste when collection is delayed. Overflow from PSP trucks at the local market has become a recurring hazard,” he explained.
Fashion designer Mrs Ajibola Mafolayanmi said burning waste three to four times weekly is her only option due to the PSP’s inconsistent service. Market waste overseer Mrs Ogundinmu Mariam confirmed that local council evacuations occur weekly but not reliably, particularly during the rainy season.
Residents in Ayobo Extension, Shasha, Egbeda, and the Akesan–Badore axis reported similar challenges, citing bad roads, selective service coverage, and increased turnaround times after the Igando dumpsite closure.
Conversely, Lekki Phase 1 residents praised PSP operators for regular waste evacuation, maintaining cleanliness and public health standards.
The President of the Association of Scrap and Waste Pickers of Lagos, Mr Friday Oku, acknowledged gaps in informal waste handling and stressed collaboration with government agencies to improve occupational safety and training.
Dr Olugbenga Adebola, President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, highlighted that PSP operators face structural and logistical constraints, but remain committed to enhancing service delivery.
