The Lagos State Government has commissioned a newly rehabilitated 1.2-kilometre access road alongside two engineered tipping platforms at the Olusosun Landfill in Ojota, marking a major step toward improving waste evacuation and reinforcing the state’s waste management infrastructure.

The rehabilitation project, delivered by ZoomLion Nigeria Limited under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, is designed to enhance access for refuse trucks, shorten turnaround times for Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators and address the waste collection challenges experienced across Lagos after weeks of heavy rainfall.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, described the intervention as the beginning of a new phase in Lagos’ waste management strategy, driven by stronger collaboration between government and the private sector, as well as engineering-focused solutions.

He explained that the initiative reflects an expanded partnership with private operators that now extends beyond waste collection into technical expertise and infrastructure development.

“What you are seeing here today is the beginning of new protocols for waste management in Lagos. In Lagos, we have always relied on partnerships. LAWMA is the regulator, while the Private Sector Participation operators are our primary partners. We also work with recycling companies and other stakeholders. Today’s partnership, however, goes beyond waste treatment to include technical and engineering collaboration that improves the management of our landfills,” he said.

Gbadegesin said members of the media were invited to inspect the project firsthand to gain a better understanding of the level of engineering and investment required for modern waste management operations.

“Waste management is resource-intensive. You cannot fully understand the effort involved unless you see the operations yourself. Experts had to be brought in from Kenya, Ghana and other countries because Lagos was facing an emergency that required innovative solutions,” he said.

He also praised ZoomLion Nigeria for completing the rehabilitation project within a short period despite challenging weather conditions.

“If you look around, you will see one of the most heavily engineered access roads and landfill platforms we have had in recent times. Those who will use this facility will testify to the ease of access and quicker turnaround time it will provide,” he added.

The LAWMA boss expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and ZoomLion Nigeria for supporting the intervention. He said the project would further strengthen collaboration as Lagos continues implementing reforms across its waste management sector.

Earlier, the Managing Director of ZoomLion Nigeria, Habiba Abubakar, explained that the company undertook the intervention after prolonged rainfall rendered several landfill sites inaccessible, disrupting waste evacuation across the state.

She noted that the waste collection difficulties experienced by residents stemmed primarily from refuse trucks being unable to reach landfill sites rather than a failure in household waste collection.

“The core of the problem was that most of the landfill sites became inaccessible because of the rains. The roads were in poor condition, making it difficult for trucks to dump waste,” she said.

“What should ordinarily take a truck two trips in a day ended up taking several days or even a week. When PSP operators cannot offload waste quickly, they are unable to return to residential areas to pick up more refuse. That is the effect residents have been experiencing.”

Abubakar said ZoomLion, whose parent company has more than 25 years of waste management experience across Africa, responded to an emergency request from the Lagos State Government and LAWMA, despite the assignment being outside the company’s contractual obligations.

“Our role in Lagos is to help move the waste management system from a linear economy to a circular economy. We receive waste after it has been collected and convert it into useful resources through waste-to-wealth initiatives,” she said.

“They know what we are capable of doing and asked us to assist because this was an emergency. We considered it and decided to support Lagos because improving the lives of people is part of our mission.”

According to Abubakar, the company assembled technical experts from several African countries to execute the rehabilitation project.

Although the work was initially scheduled for completion within 21 days, continuous rainfall extended the delivery timeline to 25 days.

“We understood the urgency because every day of delay had consequences for residents. Despite the weather challenges, we completed the intervention within 25 days,” she said.

She expressed confidence that the completed infrastructure would significantly improve operations at the landfill.

“Now trucks can move more freely, tip waste faster and return to collect more refuse. That means quicker turnaround time for PSP operators, improved efficiency and ultimately cleaner neighbourhoods for Lagos residents.”

Abubakar added that the project forms part of a broader partnership with the Lagos State Government aimed at developing a more sustainable waste management system while improving environmental sanitation across the state.

“Our vision is to continue partnering with Lagos to build a cleaner city. Once the larger project is completed, everyone will benefit from a more efficient and sustainable waste management system.”

Providing details of the engineering work, ZoomLion’s project team said the company reconstructed the 1.2-kilometre Road E and constructed two engineered tipping platforms using hard rock and laterite materials to provide all-weather access for waste trucks.

The team added that while the scope of work exceeded initial estimates, the company remained committed to delivering the project successfully.

Addressing the future of the Olusosun Landfill, Gbadegesin clarified that the facility remains operational, contrary to widespread public belief. He recalled that the Lagos State Government had only announced plans to gradually phase out operations at the site within 18 months after transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities become operational.

He further disclosed that ZoomLion is collaborating with the state government to develop transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities, while Lagos continues to invest in waste-to-energy plants, biogas facilities, and other modern waste infrastructure to support its growing population.

Gbadegesin also revealed that the entire rehabilitation project was executed under ZoomLion Nigeria’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme at no cost to the Lagos State Government.

“We appreciate this gesture and hope that by making good use of this facility, our partners will be encouraged to do even more for Lagos,” he said.

Source: The Guardian Nigeria