Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has approved the appointment of Olajuwon Akinyemi as the Acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, succeeding Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin. The development forms part of a broader restructuring exercise within the agency, which also includes the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as Acting Director of Operations and the continued incumbency of Kunle Adebiyi in his position as Executive Director, Finance.
According to a source familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu authorised a comprehensive reorganisation of the authority, encompassing the transfer of several senior officers to other departments within the Lagos State public service. The source explained that the exercise was designed to enhance service delivery and tackle the waste management challenges that have been posing a threat to the health and well-being of residents across the state.
The source stated, "To improve service delivery and support sustainable organisational growth, Governor Sanwo-Olu has ordered the total reorganisation, mass transfer and overhaul 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 ordered the redeployment of officers on Salary Grade Levels 13–17 to the mainstream Civil Service, Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas."
The source noted that personnel in LAWMA's Legal Department were excluded from the redeployment to prevent disruption to ongoing legal proceedings and concession agreements. Additionally, the heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations were exempted from the exercise for an initial period of 90 days to allow the new management team time to stabilise the authority and ensure uninterrupted operations.
When contacted by telephone on Tuesday, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, confirmed Akinyemi's appointment. Omotosho said the new appointee had been directed to assume office in an acting capacity with immediate effect as part of the major shake-up of the agency.
"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," the commissioner said.
The restructuring underscores the government's resolve to address persistent waste management issues in Lagos State, one of the most populous cities in Africa, where disposal and collection challenges have long affected residents and municipal workers alike.