Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reportedly appointed Dr Hassan Sanuth as the new Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) amid growing concerns over persistent refuse accumulation across the state.
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The reported appointment followed the governor’s alleged decision to ask the incumbent managing director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, to resign after waste management operations failed to meet expectations.
However, the Lagos State Government had yet to officially confirm the development as of Tuesday, October 20, 2026.
Sources familiar with the matter said Sanwo-Olu was dissatisfied with the continued presence of refuse on major roads, residential streets and drainage channels despite earlier directives to improve waste collection.
According to one source, the governor communicated his decision to Gbadegesin over the weekend.
However, the outgoing LAWMA chief was said to be seeking additional time to address the situation.
The development comes weeks after Sanwo-Olu declared a state of emergency on waste management and ordered a comprehensive review of the agency’s operations.
During a visit to the Olusosun Dumpsite in Ojota in September, the governor expressed displeasure over the volume of refuse accumulating across Lagos.
He described the situation as embarrassing and demanded immediate corrective measures.
Sanwo-Olu, who was accompanied by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, also met with waste management stakeholders to examine the problems affecting refuse collection and disposal.
At the meeting, the governor attributed part of the problem to the failure of some Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators to fulfil their responsibilities in the preceding weeks.
He subsequently directed a review of LAWMA’s operational structure and called for immediate, medium-term and long-term measures to improve sanitation services.
Despite these interventions, residents have continued to raise concerns about waste accumulation in several communities, including Mushin, Egbeda, Surulere, Ajegunle, Ikorodu, Ojo, Obalende, Apapa and Mile 2.
The persistent complaints reportedly contributed to the governor’s dissatisfaction with the pace of improvement.
Meanwhile, Gbadegesin had recently reported progress in clearing affected locations and restoring regular waste collection on selected routes.
In a weekly update shared on his X account on Saturday, the outgoing managing director said Mile 2 had been cleared, while additional trucks had been deployed to Doyin-Orile and surrounding areas.
He also reported sustained collection along Ijesha Road and Itire-Ikate, as well as clearance operations in Bucknor-Ijegun.
According to the update, LAWMA had introduced interim waste collection services in Okeira and Oluodo after terminating their PSP arrangements.
The agency also continued collection activities in Ogolonto and Igbokusu, while Obalende had been cleared, provided with a waste bin and placed under surveillance to prevent a recurrence.
Gbadegesin identified Apapa, Abesan Estate, Idimu-Ejigbo Road and the Isheri-Igando corridor as locations awaiting field updates under the weekly programme.
He maintained that the agency’s priority was to ensure that cleared areas remained clean through regular collection rather than relying on one-off evacuation exercises.
Sanwo-Olu had previously reappointed Gbadegesin to lead LAWMA following his re-election as governor.
Who Is Hassan Sanuth?
Sanuth, the reported successor, previously served as Director of Sanitation Services in the Office of Environmental Services under the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
He holds a doctorate in Environmental Microbiology and a master’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan.
His academic and professional interests include epidemiology, biodegradation, bioremediation and environmental monitoring.
Sanuth has also received specialised training in environmental monitoring and modelling at an institute for water education in Delft, the Netherlands. He further holds a certificate in multilevel water governance from The Hague Academy for Local Governance.
With more than 23 years of public service experience, he has worked across several environmental management and protection departments, including pollution control, conservation, ecology, billing and monitoring.
He also served as Nigeria’s focal point for environment under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation-sponsored Collaborative Action for Sustainable Tourism programme in sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, Sanuth belongs to several professional bodies, including the Science Association of Nigeria, the Nigeria Environmental Society and the American Society for Microbiology. He is also an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
His reported appointment comes at a critical time for Lagos, as the state government faces mounting pressure to improve refuse collection, strengthen waste disposal systems and prevent recurring sanitation problems.
