The Lagos State Government disclosed its intention to cease operations at the Olusosun landfill and the Solous 3 dumpsite within the next 18 months.
The government further guaranteed local residents that upcoming waste disposal sites will be established with rigorous environmental safeguards to prevent any health hazards to nearby communities.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, revealed this during a facility inspection of the Olusosun site in Ojota and the Solous 3 location in the Igando area of Alimosho on Saturday.
Wahab stated that the inspection was part of continuing discussions with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators as the state works to modernize its refuse disposal system.
He noted: “Discussions regarding the future of the Olusosun and Solous 3 sites have been consistent at several levels, including meetings with the governor and deliberations within the Executive Council.
“It became necessary for us to come here and conduct a physical evaluation, especially as we prepare to activate new landfill locations in Badagry, Ikorodu, and Epe,” he explained.
Wahab confirmed the state’s full commitment to closing the obsolete dump sites.
He remarked: “We have previously announced that both Solous 3 and Olusosun will be permanently closed, and that initiative is already in progress. Within approximately the next 18 months, the entire closure program will commence.”
He clarified that the initial destination on their tour was the location designated for Zoom Lion, the state’s collaborator on its waste-to-wealth project.
He added: “A component of our agreement is that the closure and capping of the Olusosun site will begin immediately once the material recovery facility starts its operations, following international standards.”
He stated that a comparable procedure will be carried out at Solous 3, which necessitates creating replacement facilities in Ikorodu, Epe, and Badagry to handle the remaining waste.
Wahab also drew attention to infrastructure challenges, specifically the worsening condition of the access roads leading to Olusosun and Solous 3.
He announced that the state has finalized plans to renovate these routes. While Olusosun already has a paved road surface, Solous 3 does not, a situation he described as “unacceptable” and requiring immediate resolution.
He advised waste operators against carelessly parking collection vehicles, noting that it interferes with ongoing improvements.
He said: “This area is tidy, and we must maintain proper organization. The alternative departure route that was used before will also be re-evaluated to improve traffic flow until the complete closure is finalized.”
Addressing worries that the new landfill locations might expose surrounding areas to long-term environmental hazards, Wahab stressed that Lagos is shifting from a basic to an integrated and environmentally friendly waste management approach.
Under this new framework, he explained, waste will be treated as a valuable commodity instead of just refuse. A significant amount will be either repurposed or converted into fertilizer, while materials that can be burned will be sent to partners for energy production.
He assured that “Only a very minimal amount of the waste stream will ultimately reach the landfill.”
He concluded that “The new sites will operate with modern protective measures to avoid the issues encountered in the past.”
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