The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has urged residents to report illegal waste dumping directly to the agency, rather than merely posting pictures of environmental violations on social media, as it intensifies enforcement and plans to install surveillance cameras across the state.
The campaign comes amid continuing efforts to tackle indiscriminate waste disposal in residential neighbourhoods, markets and along major roads, where accumulated refuse can block drainage channels and create public health risks.
LAWMA has asked residents to provide photographs, videos, precise locations and other useful details when reporting violations to help enforcement officers identify offenders and take appropriate action.
Residents can report illegal dumping and other waste-related complaints through the authority’s official channels, including its toll-free line, telephone number and email address.
The agency’s published contact details are 08000052962, 07080601020 and 617. Complaints can also be sent to info@lawma.gov.ng.
The authority has emphasised that public cooperation is necessary to complement enforcement and improve environmental sanitation across Lagos.
In a report published on October 14, 2026, Nairametrics said LAWMA Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed plans to install surveillance cameras at strategic locations during an interview on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM.
The proposed cameras will complement the authority’s partnership with the Lagos State Command Centre to monitor environmental violations, identify offenders and discourage illegal dumping.
Gbadegesin also disclosed that the arrival of 150 new waste trucks would strengthen waste collection and evacuation across the state. He said LAWMA’s house-to-house intervention was helping to clear accumulated refuse following the disengagement of underperforming Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.
The enforcement drive follows the scale of violations recorded in the previous year.
According to a report by The PUNCH published on February 23, 2026, LAWMA recorded 1,023 illegal dumping and other waste-management violations across Lagos in 2025, with 447 cases referred for prosecution.
The figures included 230 males and 217 females referred for legal action. The agency also identified 431 scavengers and reconciled 145 properties with their assigned PSP waste operators.
The authority said enforcement activities had continued into 2026, with officers targeting known dumping hotspots and taking action against people caught disposing of refuse at unauthorised locations.
However, improving waste collection remains an important part of addressing the problem. Some residents have complained about missed collections by PSP operators, leaving households struggling to dispose of their refuse properly.
LAWMA has acknowledged the need to address service gaps, including through intervention collections and additional trucks. In October 2026, the authority also announced the withdrawal of licences from six PSP operators over concerns about their capacity to provide reliable services in their assigned areas.
The developments highlight the need to combine enforcement with dependable waste collection so residents have practical alternatives to illegal disposal.
For Lagos residents, LAWMA’s appeal is to use approved waste collection services, avoid dumping refuse on roads and drains, and report violations through official channels.
The planned surveillance cameras are expected to strengthen monitoring, but the campaign’s effectiveness will also depend on consistent waste collection, public cooperation and sustained enforcement across the state.
