Lagos Waste Authority Cracks Down on Unregistered Cart Operators

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has stepped up efforts to tackle unlicensed cart pushers operating across the city. The agency says the move is aimed at protecting the environment and ensuring that waste is managed through approved channels rather than by informal operators who often dispose of refuse improperly.

LAWMA enforcement teams have been patrolling major districts, apprehending suspected unregistered waste collectors and seizing their carts. Many of those arrested were accused of dumping waste in unauthorised areas, contributing to pollution and undermining state efforts to maintain cleanliness.

Officials have identified several hot spots where the enforcement actions have been concentrated, including busy neighbourhoods and transport corridors. LAWMA insists that everyone involved in waste collection must be properly registered and operate within the rules set under Lagos sanitation laws.

Supporters of the campaign argue that stricter enforcement will help reduce environmental hazards and the spread of disease. Critics, however, warn that without offering alternative solutions, cracking down on informal operators could leave some communities without accessible waste collection services.