The Lagos State Government has said construction of a new Transfer Loading Station at the Olusosun dumpsite is expected to be completed before the end of the year as part of efforts to modernise waste management and advance its waste-to-wealth agenda.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing work at the Olusosun landfill following the monthly environmental sanitation exercise monitored alongside Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Surulere Local Government Area.
According to Wahab, the facility, being developed by concessionaire Zoomlion, will transfer about 2,500 metric tonnes of waste daily from the Olusosun dumpsite to the Material Recovery Facility in Ikorodu for sorting, recycling and resource recovery.
He explained that the project forms part of the state's broader strategy to decongest landfills, promote recycling and unlock economic value from waste.
Wahab said Zoomlion had also committed to rehabilitating the 1.2-kilometre access road leading to the dumpsite as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.
He added that the contractor had assured the government that work on the project would be accelerated through round-the-clock operations to ensure completion within the projected timeline.
“Our commitment is that before the end of the year, Lagosians will begin to see tangible efforts to decongest the Olusosun landfill and convert waste into wealth through resource recovery initiatives,” he said.
The commissioner described the project as a key component of Lagos State’s landfill management reforms, stressing that the traditional “pick-and-dump” waste management system is no longer sustainable in a rapidly growing megacity.
“Decades ago, Olusosun was on the outskirts of Lagos. Today, urban development has expanded around it. We can no longer rely on a linear waste management system. Waste must now be viewed as a resource for wealth creation, energy generation and industrial use,” he said.
Wahab highlighted several ongoing waste-to-resource initiatives across the state, including partnerships with private sector operators converting combustible waste into industrial fuel and the use of biodigesters to process food waste into energy.
He noted that expanding recycling programmes, compost production and waste-to-energy projects would significantly reduce the volume of waste sent to landfills.
The commissioner also disclosed plans to strengthen waste collection through the deployment of additional compactors, including electric-powered compactors, and tricycle compactors designed for narrow streets and hard-to-reach communities.
According to him, the state remains committed to implementing long-term reforms while addressing existing waste management challenges.
Meanwhile, Head of Service, Bode Agoro, who led a monitoring team to Kosofe Local Government Area during the environmental sanitation exercise, expressed satisfaction with the growing level of public participation.
Agoro noted that residents are increasingly embracing the monthly sanitation exercise and recognising it as an ongoing civic responsibility.
“This is the third edition of the exercise, and many residents now understand that it is not a one-off initiative but a monthly commitment. We are seeing more people come out to participate, which is encouraging,” he said.
He stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment campaigns to further improve compliance and participation across the state.
The Head of Service also called on corporate organisations to support environmental sanitation initiatives through corporate social responsibility programmes.
He commended companies already collaborating with the government and urged more organisations to join efforts aimed at creating a cleaner and healthier environment.
Agoro reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability through regular sanitation exercises and urged residents to continue supporting the initiative by maintaining clean surroundings and adhering to environmental regulations.