Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Olajuwon Mautin Akinyemi as the acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority following growing concerns over the worsening refuse situation across the state.
Akinyemi replaces Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin as part of a major restructuring of the agency aimed at improving waste management and restoring effective service delivery.
The PUNCH reported that the governor also appointed Dr Tijani Olorunwa as acting Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi retains his position as Executive Director of Finance.
A source within LAWMA, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the reorganisation includes the redeployment of senior officers to other departments of the Lagos State public service.
According to the source, the exercise is intended to address the waste management challenges confronting the state and strengthen the authority’s operations.
“To improve service delivery and support sustainable organic organisational growth, Governor Sanwo-Olu has ordered the total reorganisation, mass transfer and overhauling of LAWMA leadership.
“He has appointed Hon. Olajuwon Mautin Akinyemi as Acting Managing Director of LAWMA and Dr. Tijani Olorunwa as Acting Director of Operations, while Mr. Kunle Adebiyi remains Executive Director, Finance.
“Specifically, the governor odered the redeployment of officers on Salary Grade Levels 13–17 to the mainstream Civil Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas,” the source explained.
The source added that officers in the authority’s Legal Department would be exempted from the redeployment to avoid disrupting ongoing legal proceedings and concession agreements.
The heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations would also remain in their positions for an initial 90 days to ensure continuity and allow the new management to stabilise the agency.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, said Akinyemi’s appointment had taken immediate effect.
“Yes, Olajuwon Akinyemi has been told to assume office as the acting MD of LAWMA with immediate effect in the major shake-up of the agency,” Omotosho said.
The latest changes follow an earlier report by The PUNCH, that Sanwo-Olu had directed Gbadegesin to resign over the persistent accumulation of refuse along major roads, residential neighbourhoods and drainage channels in Lagos.
The earlier report cited an insider who said the governor was dissatisfied with the slow pace of waste evacuation and the former managing director’s alleged failure to respond promptly to directives aimed at tackling the crisis.
For months, residents across different parts of Lagos have raised concerns about irregular waste collection, with heaps of refuse accumulating on road medians, streets and major highways.
The situation has heightened concerns about environmental sanitation and the potential public health consequences of prolonged exposure to unmanaged waste.
Lagos generates approximately 14,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, placing considerable pressure on its waste collection, transportation and disposal systems.
LAWMA plays a central role in coordinating waste management activities, including landfill operations and the participation of private waste management operators.
Akinyemi, an indigene of Badagry Local Government Area, is an administrator who previously served in the Lagos State public service.
He was appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2025 as Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission.
He also served as Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) in the Lagos State Civil Service for UBEC and as Director of Administration and Human Resources in the state’s Office of Infrastructure.
