Lagos needs governance reforms to tackle waste crisis – SWEEP – EnviroNews

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The Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Programme (SWEEP) Foundation has called for governance reforms in Lagos State’s waste management sector to address the growing refuse challenge across the state.

The President of SWEEP, Amb. Philips Obusesi, made the call in an interview on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Lagos.

Obusesi said governance, institutional capacity and technical expertise were critical areas requiring urgent attention to improve waste management in the state.

According to him, effective leadership, professional competence and sustained commitment are essential to tackling the challenge.

“Two things remain most critical: round pegs in square holes and the lack of political will to bark and bite,” he said.

He said appointments in the waste management sector should be based on competence and technical knowledge to ensure effective policy implementation.

“Until we match competence with authority, the problem will remain,” he said.

Obusesi urged the government to reduce bureaucracy and empower professionals to drive reforms in the sector.

He stressed that waste management required technical expertise, strategic planning and decisive leadership.

“Waste management is engineering, not patronage,” he said.

The SWEEP president also called for long-term reforms that would promote waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery.

He proposed the creation of a standalone Ministry of Environment and Waste Resources with cabinet-level authority to drive policy implementation and sector development.

“Waste must move from being an afterthought to a first-line charge,” he said.

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Obusesi said environmental sanitation was a shared responsibility between government and residents, noting that public compliance often depended on government performance.

He identified waste sorting at source as a key behavioural change needed to improve sanitation and support recycling efforts.

According to him, sustained public enlightenment and awareness campaigns are necessary to encourage residents to adopt environmentally responsible practices.

“Citizens are more likely to embrace positive environmental practices when they see the government fulfilling its responsibilities,” he said.

Obusesi expressed optimism that Lagos could make significant progress in addressing its waste management challenges through the right governance framework and technical expertise.

By Uchechi Afonne