Long queues of refuse trucks, deteriorating access roads, ageing machinery and mounting waste have become defining features of the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota, raising concerns over environmental pollution, operational efficiency and public health.
The facility, managed by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), is regarded as the state’s largest waste disposal site. However, worsening infrastructure and frequent equipment failures are slowing waste evacuation and leaving communities vulnerable to sanitation challenges.
Motorists travelling along the Ojota section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway regularly encounter long lines of refuse trucks waiting to offload waste. While many have blamed the congestion on poor road conditions, an independent assessment found broader operational issues, including obsolete equipment, repeated machinery breakdowns and deteriorating internal roads.
The investigation revealed that several sections of the landfill have become difficult for heavy-duty vehicles to access, particularly during the rainy season when muddy roads leave trucks stranded for hours or even days.
During a visit to the facility, numerous refuse trucks and heavy equipment, including payloaders, were seen trapped in the mud, while technical personnel worked to recover damaged vehicles. Some waste collection trucks struggled to reach designated dumping points, further slowing operations.
Drivers operating at the landfill described the situation as increasingly difficult.
One truck operator, who requested anonymity, said he had spent two days waiting to discharge refuse.
“The access roads are in terrible condition. Once trucks get trapped, everyone behind them is forced to wait. Some of us have spent several days here before we can offload,” he said.
Another operator explained that ageing equipment has become a major challenge, with compactors and other machines breaking down frequently, reducing the site’s operational capacity.
According to waste operators, these delays are affecting refuse collection across Lagos as trucks spend longer periods at the dumpsite instead of returning to residential and commercial areas for new collections.
Residents in several communities have already begun experiencing irregular waste evacuation, with refuse piling up along roads and drainage channels.
A resident of Ijesha Road, Mercy Chinemere, said waste collection vehicles had not visited her neighbourhood for nearly two weeks, forcing many households to rely on informal waste collectors.
“The official trucks have not been coming regularly, so many people now pay cart pushers to dispose of their waste, while others dump refuse along the roadside,” she said.
Environmental experts warn that poorly managed landfill sites can create significant public health risks.
An epidemiologist and public health physician, Prof. Tanimola Akande, said unmanaged waste encourages the breeding of rodents, mosquitoes and flies capable of transmitting diseases such as Lassa fever, cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
He also noted that decomposing waste releases harmful gases and pollutants that may contribute to respiratory illnesses among nearby residents.
The World Health Organization has similarly warned that poorly managed municipal waste poses serious health risks through contamination of air, water and soil, while also creating breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects and rodents.
Studies conducted around the Olusosun landfill have also reported elevated concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater sources near the site, raising additional concerns about water quality for surrounding communities.
Environmental specialists say addressing the situation will require investment in modern waste management infrastructure, improved recycling systems, rehabilitation of landfill facilities and the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies.
They also recommend stronger public education on waste segregation and disposal, alongside increased funding for waste collection equipment and routine environmental monitoring.
Despite repeated concerns raised by operators and residents, no official response was available from the Lagos State Waste Management Authority regarding the current operational challenges at the facility.
Stakeholders maintain that without urgent intervention, continued deterioration at the Olusosun dumpsite could worsen waste collection delays across Lagos, increase environmental pollution and expose surrounding communities to greater public health risks.
