By Abashi Rahab
I recently read the report titled “Tackling Indiscriminate Dumping of Refuse in Lagos,”. The report highlighted Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive to intensify refuse collection across the state and drew attention to the persistent heaps of waste lining major roads and public spaces despite government efforts.
While the report focused on the operational and environmental dimensions of the refuse crisis, one aspect stood out to me more than any other: the growing acceptance of unhealthy conditions by many residents and traders who have become accustomed to living and working around overflowing waste dumps.
That, in my view, is the deeper problem.
The report captured the experiences of individuals who have gradually adapted to circumstances that should never be considered normal. One trader explained that whenever the stench from nearby refuse heaps became unbearable, people simply covered their noses with handkerchiefs or pieces of cloth until they could no longer tolerate the inconvenience. Another admitted that the waste negatively affected the food sold to customers but lamented that economic realities left little choice. Such testimonies are both revealing and disturbing. No citizen should be forced to choose between earning a livelihood and safeguarding personal health.
The refuse challenge confronting Lagos is far more than an environmental concern; it is a public health issue with serious implications. Uncollected waste attracts flies, rodents, and mosquitoes that spread diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and malaria. During the rainy season, blocked drainage channels often result in flooding, while stagnant water creates breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects. In addition, the decomposition of waste releases pollutants that can exacerbate respiratory illnesses and degrade air quality. Over time, poor waste management also contaminates soil and groundwater, creating environmental hazards that may persist for generations.
What makes the situation particularly frustrating is that many residents who wish to dispose of waste responsibly are often constrained by weaknesses within the waste management system itself. According to the report, some waste collection operators spend several days—and in some cases up to a week—waiting to dispose of refuse because disposal facilities are overstretched or difficult to access. In certain communities, designated waste collection points have either been removed or become inadequate, leaving residents with limited options. Traders who contribute regularly to waste disposal services still find themselves surrounded by accumulating refuse.
These realities suggest that the challenge extends beyond individual behaviour. They point to the need for stronger infrastructure, more efficient service delivery, and improved environmental governance. The Lagos State Government deserves recognition for acknowledging the problem and directing intensified refuse evacuation efforts. However, lasting progress will require sustained investment in waste management infrastructure, additional compactors and evacuation vehicles, expanded disposal facilities, accessible collection points, and stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure consistency in service delivery.
Environmental sanitation should not be treated as an occasional intervention triggered by public outcry. It should be regarded as an essential public service that directly affects public health, economic productivity, and the overall quality of urban life.
At the same time, government action alone cannot solve the problem.
Citizens also have an important role to play in protecting the environment. The indiscriminate dumping of refuse in gutters, waterways, roadsides, and open spaces continues to undermine efforts to maintain a cleaner city. Public infrastructure cannot function effectively when residents disregard basic environmental responsibilities. Keeping Lagos clean begins with individual actions—in homes, markets, offices, schools, and neighbourhoods. Every resident has a duty to dispose of waste properly and contribute to a culture of environmental responsibility.
For decades, Lagos has struggled with the perception that it is overwhelmed by waste and poor sanitation. Yet this image is not irreversible. A cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable city is achievable if government institutions, businesses, communities, and residents work together toward a common objective. What must be resisted is the dangerous tendency to normalise unhealthy conditions simply because they have persisted for a long time.
Covering one’s nose to endure the smell of refuse should never become a way of life. Living and working beside mountains of waste should never be accepted as normal. When citizens begin to adjust to environmental conditions that threaten their health and dignity, society risks losing the urgency needed to demand and sustain meaningful change.
A clean environment is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Every pile of uncollected refuse poses a potential health hazard, while every effort to manage waste responsibly contributes to a safer, more livable community. If Lagos is to become the cleaner and more resilient city its residents deserve, the solution must involve both stronger government action and greater public responsibility.
Only through such a shared commitment can the state effectively address its waste management challenges and ensure that future generations inherit a healthier environment.
Abashi Rahab is a Strategic Communication student at Yakubu Gowon University and an intern at Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR). She can be reached at abashirahab@gmail.com.
