Lagos Govt Concession Signing Deal with Ghanaian firm on Waste Management System

Lagos State is set to build a material recovery plant and a waste recycling plant — the two most important facilities required to fully integrate the State into a sustainable modern waste management system. 

L-R: Chairman, Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong; Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Commissioner for the Environment & Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab and Special Adviser to the Governor - Legal/PPP, Mrs. Bukola Odoe during the signing of agreement between the Lagos State government and Jospong Group of Companies on waste management and processing concession, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, May 26, 2025. 

Strategic Significance

The Lagos State Government’s signing of a concession agreement with ZoomLion Nigeria Limited marks a critical shift from linear to circular waste management. Instead of relying on the traditional model of collection, transport, and dumping, the state is now prioritizing recycling, recovery, and conversion of waste into valuable resources. This represents a progressive alignment with global best practices in sustainable urban waste management.

 Key Infrastructure Developments

Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) will be constructed in Ikorodu and Badagry.

Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) are planned at Olusosun (Ketu) and Solous III (Igando). The Olusosun and Solous III dumpsites — two of Lagos’s largest and oldest — will be decommissioned.

Deployment of self-tipping tricycles indicates a push for last-mile waste collection in densely populated or hard-to-reach areas.

These steps suggest a phased transformation of waste logistics, with the infrastructure serving as nodes in a closed-loop system designed to process and repurpose waste efficiently.

 Environmental and Economic Impact

Environmental Benefits: Reduction in land pollution, methane emissions from dumpsites, and improved urban hygiene. The integration of waste-to-resource conversion will lessen dependence on landfills.

Economic Opportunities: The project is expected to generate over 5,000 jobs, transforming waste into a platform for green employment and economic empowerment.

Future Potential: By incorporating elements like carbon credits, biodiversity, and biofuel, Lagos is laying the groundwork for participation in environmental markets and climate finance mechanisms.

 Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model

The agreement underscores Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to PPPs as a mechanism to deliver large-scale infrastructure. The state retains oversight while leveraging the expertise and capital of ZoomLion, whose experience in Ghana and across Africa reinforces confidence in successful execution.

Governor Sanwo-Olu and Commissioner Wahab both emphasized that: The process was rigorously evaluated at multiple levels of government. It was designed to support existing PSP operators, not displace them, highlighting an inclusive approach.

L-R: Chairman, Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong; Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Managing Director, Zoomlion Nigeria, Habiba Abubakar; Special Adviser to the Governor - Environment, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu and the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Environment, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji during the signing of agreement between the Lagos State government and Jospong Group of Companies on waste management and processing concession, at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday, May 26, 2025. 

 Political and Governance Implications

This move aligns with Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES agenda, particularly on environmental sustainability and governance.

It shows a willingness to make bold policy decisions, such as shutting down long-standing dumpsites, which may have been politically sensitive.

By emphasizing no job losses and the creation of dignified employment, the administration is managing potential public resistance and labor-related concerns.

 Challenges and Considerations

While promising, the success of this initiative hinges on:

Timely execution (18-month timeline).

Efficient collaboration between state agencies, PSPs, and ZoomLion.

Public awareness and participation, especially in waste segregation at source.

Regulatory oversight to ensure environmental compliance and transparency in operations.

This project marks a transformational pivot in Lagos’s environmental policy —a movement toward a circular economy model that is climate-resilient, economically viable, and socially inclusive. It reflects visionary governance in urban planning and sustainability, with the potential to serve as a model for other African cities.