Can We Empower The 774 LGA Councils To Lead Waste Management in Nigeria?

 


The Lassa fever situation report from the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), released in June 2026, stated that the virus has killed 214 people this year, with Ondo, Bauchi, Taraba, Edo & Benue States being responsible for 84% of confirmed cases. Sadly, a medical doctor colleague in my organization died last month from Lassa fever. Truth be told, Nigeria cannot effectively control this epidemic without disrupting the rodent population. And how feasible is it to alter the reproductive cycle of rats in a country with weak waste management governance?

Emeritus Prof. Barry Munslow, then of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, was a visiting tutor at Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, and had tutored my 2013/2014 Master of Science in Healthcare Management class. As a world-renowned Professor of Politics & Communication Studies and a development expert, Prof. Munslow delivered a verdict on African countries in one of his usual mind-blowing sessions. Taking turns to make eye contact with the three Nigerian students (including my humble self) and one Kenyan in class, he politely noted, “Nigeria, Kenya, and other African countries must devise an effective waste management system to curb over 60% of their disease burden”.

As of today, Nigeria has ineffective governance and operational structures for waste management, yet we expect the Federal Ministry of Health, 36 States & FCT Ministries of Health, and the Primary Health Care system to combat disease outbreaks effectively. Many State capitals, towns, villages & communities are beehives of garbage, uncleared bushes, and clogged drains, contributing significantly to the plagues of Lassa fever, malaria, cholera, typhoid enteritis, and several other health risks. Let’s be reminded, however, that environmental control, which includes an efficient waste management system, is a prelude to preventing several disease epidemics.

Although Section 20 of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) mandates the State to "protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air, land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria", these broad constitutional objectives are implemented through various environmental laws enforced by relevant Federal, State and local government bodies. In my strong view, however, the overlap of this important responsibility among the three tiers does not permit any of the actors to assume primary responsibility and decision-making in creating public awareness, investing in infrastructure, seeking relevant partnerships, training officials, and enforcing waste management laws. 

Riding on Section 1 Paragraph ‘h’  of the Fourth Schedule that specifically mandates Local Government Area (LGA) Councils to provide and maintain "public conveniences, sewage, and refuse disposal", I hereby strongly recommend that LGA authorities be supported to effectively lead this charge in an era of increasing decentralization of powers being tactically engineered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as though in response to my book titled “DIAL 811: DEFT or DAFT?”, which was published in 2022. Beyond the weak execution of sanitation bye-laws through imposed fines & penalties, I believe that the 774 LGA Councils, being the closest unit to Nigerians, can manage the enormous waste generated from domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, medical, biomedical, and construction-related activities by the estimated 230 million people residing in Nigeria.

As we anticipate a direct remittance of statutory funds allocation to the LGA councils with the affirmative Supreme Court judgment of 11th July 2024, I urge the 36 State governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, under an executive arrangement, to devolve the geographical, administrative, political, and economic powers relating to waste management to LGA council Chairmen within their respective domains. To silence naysayers who question the relevance and developmental contributions of LGA councils, let these councils assume leading roles in coordinating the collection, disposal, landfill or dump-site management, and possible recycling of waste while the respective State Waste Management Authorities play supportive roles in this regard. Hopefully, we will have stronger environmental controls on disease-causing pathogens in the nooks & crannies of this country when LGA councils begin to lead this responsibility. I so submit!

My name is Adetolu Ademujimi, a Development Consultant, Medical Doctor, Healthcare Finance Specialist, Author, Reformer, Public Policy expert, and social entrepreneur, who can be reached in Abuja at adetoluademujimi@gmail.com. You can also visit my website www.adetoluademujimi.com.

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