Hope Ajayi 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has withdrawn the operating licences of six private waste collection operators over their inability to provide effective services in their assigned areas across the state.
LAWMA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, announced the decision on Tuesday during a management briefing in Lagos, amid concerns over poor waste collection in parts of the state.
The affected operators are K-HS Integrated Services, formerly Gboleybos Nigeria Limited, in Igbogbo-Baiyeku; Deshasat Enterprises in Olorunda; Bailas Nigeria Company in Ojo; Guestimate Environmental Protection Company in Orile Agege; Evabol Ventures in Ajeromi-Ifelodun; and Korad Closet Empire Limited in Ojodu.
LAWMA said K-HS Integrated Services voluntarily withdrew from its assigned service area, while the licences of the other five operators were terminated following an assessment of their operations.
The assessment found that the affected operators lacked the capacity to continue delivering effective waste collection services in their respective areas.
Gbadegesin said LAWMA would take measures to ensure uninterrupted waste collection in the affected communities despite the changes.
He also urged residents to use approved waste collection channels and cooperate with authorised operators.
The latest action follows similar measures taken by LAWMA in May, when the authority withdrew the licences of five other private waste operators following an operational review.
The authority has also continued engagements with waste managers and other stakeholders on reforms to the Private Sector Participation scheme, aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening accountability among operators.
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Mirian Gom 
Korede Abdullah 