Lagos Waste Crisis: Sanwo-Olu Reportedly Sacks LAWMA Boss, Names Hassan Sanuth as Successor

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reportedly appointed Dr Hassan Sanuth as the new Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), amid mounting concerns over refuse accumulation across the state.

The reported development comes amid claims that the incumbent managing director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, was asked to resign following dissatisfaction with persistent waste management challenges, including heaps of refuse on major roads, residential streets and drainage channels.

However, the relevant state authorities had yet to officially confirm the reported appointment or Gbadegesin’s departure as of the time of the report.

Sources familiar with the development said Sanwo-Olu was unhappy with the slow pace of waste evacuation despite repeated directives to improve refuse collection across Lagos.

One source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor asked Gbadegesin to resign over the weekend. The outgoing managing director was reportedly seeking additional time to address the situation.

Sanuth, who is reportedly set to take over the agency, previously served as Director of Sanitation Services in the Office of Environmental Services under the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

His reported appointment comes as the state government faces renewed pressure to improve sanitation and restore public confidence in its waste management system.

About a month before the reported leadership change, Sanwo-Olu visited the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota, where he expressed displeasure over the accumulation of refuse across parts of Lagos, describing the situation as “embarrassing”.

During the visit, the governor ordered urgent measures to address the problem, directed a comprehensive review of LAWMA’s management and operational structures, and declared a state of emergency on waste management.

Sanwo-Olu was accompanied by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, during the inspection. The governor also met with stakeholders in the waste management sector to examine operational challenges and discuss immediate, medium-term and long-term solutions.

The governor attributed part of the waste collection delays to the failure of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to fulfil their responsibilities in the weeks preceding the visit.

He also disclosed that waste compaction was ongoing at the Olusosun and Solous 3 dumpsites, with the aim of improving refuse evacuation and disposal operations.

According to the governor, recent fire incidents at the facilities had disrupted operations. He said activities had resumed, with contractors working to prepare the sites for regular waste disposal.

Sanwo-Olu further stated that completing the projects would enable each dumpsite to accommodate about 450 trucks of municipal waste daily, effectively doubling the waste-handling capacity available to PSP operators.

The reported leadership change signals a possible shift in the state government’s response to the waste crisis. However, the appointment and the circumstances surrounding Gbadegesin’s reported exit remain subject to official confirmation.