LAGOS — Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has allegedly directed the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin (also referred to as Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin), to resign over the persistent heaps of refuse littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels across the state.
According to an exclusive report by PUNCH, an insider within the agency who spoke on conditions of anonymity said the governor had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Gbadegesin’s handling of the waste management crisis. The source said Sanwo-Olu advised the LAWMA boss to step down over the weekend.
The governor’s displeasure reportedly stemmed from the slow pace of waste evacuation and what was described as the agency’s failure to act promptly on earlier directives. Sanwo-Olu had visited the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota about a month ago, expressed dissatisfaction with conditions there, and declared a state of emergency on waste management, instructing that immediate action be taken.
“The governor was upset when he observed that the situation had not improved despite his clear directive. So, over the weekend, he asked him to resign, although he is begging and has reached out to some prominent Lagosians to beg on his behalf,” the source told PUNCH.
Gbadegesin is said to be appealing the decision and has sought the intervention of influential Lagosians. As of Monday evening, there was no official confirmation from the Lagos State Government or LAWMA that the Managing Director had submitted his resignation or been formally removed.
The reported move comes amid widespread public complaints about uncollected refuse in various parts of Lagos, including major corridors and residential neighbourhoods. LAWMA had recently terminated the licences of some Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators over poor performance as part of efforts to improve collection services.
The development marks another high-profile pressure point in the state’s ongoing struggle with waste management under the current administration. Residents and commentators have continued to call for more effective and sustained solutions beyond leadership changes.
Further official statements from the governor’s office or LAWMA are still being awaited.
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