Lagos, Sept. 18, 2025 (NAN) Some residents of Orile Iganmu area of Lagos have raised alarm over improper waste disposal and poor environmental conditions in their community.
The residents lamented their ordeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
They attributed the poor waste management issues in the community to non-payment of service charges of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority(LAWMA).
According to them, the development has resulted to the unhealthy habit of improper waste disposal.
The residents said the situation deteriorated following the limited financial resources at their disposal.
According to them, streets in the area are lined with petty traders selling mostly fresh produce.
They however noted that the wastes generated from these business activities often ended up in wrong places.
They further noted that the development had made the area prone to vector-borne diseases that had resulted in major health and environmental concerns.
Mr Lati Aremu, a resident of 49, Awe Street, Orile, said the non-payment of the service of LAWMA had resulted in the poor health condition of the area.
“The non-payment of LAWMA dues, is affecting the environment and some of the residents cannot afford to patronise the ‘masara’ (local waste collectors popularly known as aboki) due to the exorbitant fees they charge for waste disposal.
“Despite the government’s effort to provide a waste disposal truck, the community still struggle with the challenges of managing its waste.
“When the truck is full, it becomes a source of air pollution, filling the air with strong and bad smell, “Aremu said.
On her part, Mrs Adejumoke Afolayan, a resident of 40, Makanjuola Street, also noted that the refusal to pay the LAWMA fees was the main challenge among members of the community.
She noted that they compared the service charge to that of the local refuse collectors, which they claimed was far less expensive, depending on the quantity.
“We want our community to be clean and for it to be clean, we must do the right thing. We need to start consistently paying for the services of LAWMA,”Afolayan said.
Another resident, simply known as Adedoyin, said there must be moves for more sustainable solutions to waste management at in and around the community.
“The government need to take proper action to address this issue.
“It is affecting our environment, especially during rainy season, when the waste gets scattered, causing more problems.
“Resident are calling for improved waste collection services and increased public awareness of the waste management regulations.
“It is time for the government to take a closer look at the issues and work toward finding a lasting solution that will benefit residents of Orile-Iganmu,” Adedoyin said. (NAN)
