Dumps and Neglect: Bariga Residents Decry Government’s Inaction Over Mounting Waste Crisis

Bariga, one of the poorest areas in Lagos State, Nigeria, is grappling with an environmental crisis as residents lament the government’s prolonged failure to address the issue of open refuse disposal. Despite years of self-driven efforts to improve their surroundings, heaps of waste have become a permanent feature of the area, exacerbating health risks and environmental degradation.

 

Historically, Bariga was part of the Shomolu Local Government Area until it was upgraded to a Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in 2013. However, this administrative change has done little to address the environmental neglect that residents have endured for decades.

“For over two years now, this junction has been a dumping ground,” says Hassan Abdulhazeez, a resident near the Bariga-Bajulaiye junction. “Every day, the waste spreads further onto the road. The government only comes when we complain loudly, but nothing really changes.”

 

To add context, Bariga’s refuse crisis reflects a broader waste management challenge in Lagos, a state plagued by air pollution, vehicle emissions, illegal dumping, and poor waste disposal infrastructure.

According to a report by  Clean Air Fund, Lagos’s waste management inefficiencies contribute to a 9% increase in PM2.5 concentration due to open burning and illegal waste disposal. Of the estimated 14,000 metric tons of waste generated daily, over 30% ends up in illegal dumpsites, with much of it burned before collection.

Blame and Counterblame

Residents accuse the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Ministry of Environment of failing to uphold their obligations. Many say the inefficiency of LAWMA, coupled with the Local Council Development Area’s (LCDA) inability to sustain disciplinary measures, has left Bariga in a worse state.

At the heart of the crisis lies a junction near an open canal separating Bariga from Bajulaiye Road. The spot, located close to a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling station, has turned into an illegal dumpsite for residents, passersby, and even local cattle herders.

“This junction is not filled yet, but give it a day or two, and it will be everywhere, spreading into the main road,” noted a shop owner Tunde Selim, near the canal. He attributed the issue to government negligence, stating, “Some youths once suggested deploying security personnel to monitor the area, but the government ignored them. When local youths tried to confront offenders, it escalated into violence.”

A History of Neglect

The waste collection initiative under the Private Sector Partnership (PSP) began in Bariga in 1997 but has faced repeated setbacks due to poor management and resident non-compliance. LAWMA took over PSP operations in 2007, aiming to improve oversight. However, residents report that LAWMA and PSP operators have struggled to maintain consistent waste collection.

Sanitarian Owolabi Josiah, an official at the Bariga LCDA, acknowledged the challenges. “There is an Environmental or Sanitation Police on standby for offenders, but violations often occur at night when monitoring personnel are unavailable,” he said.

Josiah also highlighted resident non-participation as a major issue. “Many residents refuse to patronize PSP operators and do not pay for services. This leaves PSP operators unable to cover costs, and the waste piles up.”

A Cycle of Frustration

In the past, attempts to monitor the area included deploying disciplinary officers and even members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). However, these efforts were abandoned after the government stopped paying the officers after just two months.

“LAWMA comes every Wednesday or Thursday,” says another resident. “But within days, tricycle operators and pedestrians dump more refuse. Cattle scatter the waste, and it’s back to square one.”

The neglect has fostered health risks, including gastrointestinal disorders, diarrhea, and cholera, especially for those living close to the dumpsite. Residents now tolerate the unpleasant smell as part of daily life, despite its unhealthiness.

The Way Forward

As Lagos State grapples with an ever-growing population of over 24 million, the need for efficient, technology-driven waste management systems has never been more urgent. Experts warn that without immediate action, neighborhoods like Bariga will continue to suffer from environmental degradation and public health crises.

Residents are calling for stricter enforcement of waste disposal laws, regular waste collection schedules, and better support for PSP operators. “If the government paid people to monitor the area, offenders could be handed over to the police and fined,” suggested a local Environmental Supervisor.

Until then, the streets of Bariga remain a stark reminder of how administrative inefficiencies and neglect can turn an already vulnerable community into an environmental hazard zone.