๐๐๐ง๐ฐ๐จ-๐๐ฅ๐ฎ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐ฒ-๐๐จ๐ซ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐จ๐ง ๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ฒ๐๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐
The worsening waste management situation in Lagos State has triggered a major leadership shake-up at the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appointing Badagry-born Hon. Olajuwon Mautin Akinyemi as the agency’s Acting Managing Director.
Akinyemi, an indigene of Iragon in Badagry Local Government Area, takes over from Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin as the state government moves to overhaul the agency and improve its response to the growing refuse crisis confronting residents.
The appointment was confirmed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, who said Akinyemi had been directed to assume office with immediate effect.
The shake-up extends beyond the replacement of the agency’s chief executive. Dr Tijani Olorunwa has been appointed Acting Director of Operations, while Mr Kunle Adebiyi retains his position as Executive Director, Finance.
As part of the reorganisation, senior officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 are to be redeployed to the mainstream Civil Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas.
The Legal Department is exempted from the exercise to avoid disruptions to ongoing legal proceedings and concession agreements, while the heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations will remain in their positions for an initial 90 days to ensure operational stability.
The development follows months of complaints over refuse heaps along Lagos roads, highways, residential neighbourhoods and drainage channels, with the state reportedly generating about 14,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily.
Akinyemi brings considerable public service experience to the new assignment. Before his appointment, he served as Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), having been appointed by President Bola Tinubu in 2025.
He also previously served as Director of Administration and Human Resources in the Office of Infrastructure.
His appointment marks a significant moment for Badagry, with another indigene of the ancient town taking up a strategic responsibility in the Lagos State public service, this time at the centre of efforts to tackle one of the state’s most pressing environmental challenges.
