LAWMA to Install Surveillance Cameras Across Lagos to Curb Illegal Dumping
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) plans to install surveillance cameras at strategic locations across Lagos State as part of efforts to identify offenders and curb indiscriminate waste disposal.
The authority’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, disclosed the plan during an interview on Lagos Talks 91.3 FM on Monday, October 12, according to reports published on Wednesday.
Gbadegesin said the proposed cameras would complement an existing partnership with the Lagos State Command Centre to monitor environmental violations within the centre’s coverage area.
According to the reports, the initiative is intended to strengthen surveillance, discourage illegal dumping and assist in identifying offenders for appropriate action under applicable environmental laws.
The LAWMA chief executive said improving waste collection infrastructure alone would not be enough to achieve a cleaner Lagos, adding that residents also needed to adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
He stressed the importance of combining enforcement with public awareness to address persistent cases of indiscriminate dumping across the state.
The authority has not publicly specified the locations where the new cameras will be installed or announced a commencement date for the deployment in the reports reviewed.
Gbadegesin also disclosed that the arrival of 150 new waste trucks would strengthen waste collection and evacuation across Lagos.
He said the authority had introduced house-to-house waste collection interventions to address accumulated refuse following the disengagement of underperforming Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators.
The PSP system involves private operators providing waste collection services to households and businesses under arrangements with the state.
LAWMA has urged residents to use approved waste collection services, package their refuse properly and report illegal dumping.
The authority’s position is that additional collection equipment must be accompanied by responsible disposal habits and consistent enforcement to prevent cleared locations from becoming illegal dumpsites again.
The proposed camera deployment comes amid ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Government to enforce environmental regulations and discourage illegal waste disposal.
According to a report published by The Punch in February, LAWMA recorded 1,023 cases of illegal dumping and other waste management violations across the state in 2025. The report, citing the authority’s waste surveillance statistics, said 447 cases were referred for prosecution.
The figures indicate the scale of the enforcement challenge facing the authority, although they do not establish how much illegal dumping the proposed cameras would prevent.
In May, the Lagos State Government also announced the arrest of three people accused of unlawfully disposing of waste at unauthorised locations in the Ketu-Alapere area. The arrests followed an overnight surveillance operation conducted by LAWMA’s Waste Infractions Surveillance and Investigation Team.
The government said the operation was part of its efforts to eliminate illegal dumping points and strengthen compliance with environmental regulations.
The planned surveillance cameras would add another monitoring measure to these existing enforcement activities.
However, details about the number of cameras, installation costs, locations to be covered and arrangements for monitoring the footage have not been established in the reports reviewed.
LAWMA’s proposed deployment is expected to support its enforcement efforts, while the authority continues to address waste collection and disposal challenges across Lagos.
