The Lagos Waste Management Authority has announced that out of the 3,000 compactor trucks of different sizes and capacities expected to arrive in the state within the next three years to strengthen waste collection and evacuation across the state, 150 will be delivered by the end of this year.

LAWMA added that 150 of the new compactors, which include tricycle compactors designed for narrow streets and hard-to-reach communities, form part of the first phase of the procurement programme.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, made this known on Tuesday while inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation of Road E at the Olusosun Disposal Facility to evaluate the progress of the project.

The Director of Public Affairs at LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, disclosed this in a recent statement obtained by The PUNCH.

Gbadegesin described the project as a critical intervention aimed at improving access to the facility and accelerating waste evacuation across the metropolis.

“The Lagos State Government had concluded plans to acquire 3,000 compactor trucks of different sizes and capacities over the next three years to strengthen waste collection and evacuation across the State. About 150 of the new compactors, including tricycle compactors designed for narrow streets and hard-to-reach communities, are expected to arrive before the end of the year as part of the first phase of the procurement programme,” he added.

Gbadegesin noted that the state requires no fewer than 2,000 operational compactor trucks to effectively manage the volume of waste generated daily, stressing that the new fleet would improve service delivery, strengthen the operations of private sector participants and expand waste collection coverage across the state.

He further disclosed that the modern transfer loading station model would be replicated across Lagos as part of the state government’s long-term strategy to modernise waste management infrastructure, reduce haulage distances, improve operational efficiency, lower transportation costs and support the gradual transition from landfill-dependent waste disposal to a more sustainable waste management system, driven by resource recovery and the circular economy.

While appealing to residents for continued understanding and cooperation, the LAWMA boss assured them that the current waste evacuation delays were temporary and would gradually ease as the rehabilitation of Road E progressed, additional operational platforms became available, and the state’s ongoing investments in modern waste management infrastructure began to yield results.

He reaffirmed LAWMA’s commitment to delivering efficient, reliable and sustainable waste management services, while commending Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his continued investment in modernising Lagos’ waste management system through strategic infrastructure development, fleet expansion and innovative partnerships.

The LAWMA boss reiterated that the temporary delays being experienced in waste evacuation across parts of Lagos will soon ease following the ongoing rehabilitation of Road E at the Olusosun Disposal Facility, which is expected to restore seamless access for waste collection vehicles and significantly improve evacuation operations.

He disclosed that the rehabilitation, being undertaken by Zoomlion Nigeria as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, would enable compactor trucks to access the disposal facility with greater ease, reduce turnaround time and enhance operational efficiency.

Gbadegesin explained that the recent heavy rainfall had significantly affected access to the Olusosun disposal facility, hampering the movement of compactor trucks into and out of the site and contributing to the temporary delays in waste evacuation experienced in some parts of Lagos.

He expressed confidence that the ongoing rehabilitation of Road E would restore seamless access to the facility and substantially improve waste evacuation across the state.

According to him, Olusosun currently receives approximately 10,000 metric tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, making it one of the busiest waste disposal facilities in Africa and underscoring the importance of maintaining uninterrupted access to the site.

He explained that while the Lagos State Government remained committed to decommissioning the Olusosun disposal facility, the exercise would be implemented as a carefully managed process to avoid disrupting waste management services across the state.

Gbadegesin stressed that the facility could only be fully decommissioned after adequate alternative infrastructure had been put in place to accommodate the enormous volume of waste generated daily, noting that shutting it down without viable alternatives would create serious operational challenges.

He identified the construction of two modern transfer loading stations by Zoomlion at Olusosun and Solous III as one of the major alternatives being developed to support the transition.

He explained that each of the new facilities would process “2,500 metric tonnes of waste daily, representing about twenty times the capacity of the existing Simpson Transfer Loading Station, and would significantly improve the efficiency of waste transportation across the State.”

The LAWMA boss added that the agency was also creating additional dumping platforms within the Olusosun disposal facility to improve traffic flow, minimise waiting time for compactor trucks and further enhance operational efficiency pending the completion of the new transfer loading stations.

Gunmen have allegedly kidnapped the 60-year-old headmaster of Nomadic Basic School, Igbojaye, Budo Aare, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Kolawale Mathew Owoade, popularly known as Onaiye, and demanded a ransom of N30m for his release.

Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the incident occurred on Saturday evening, July 11, 2026, between 5 pm and 6 pm.

The victim’s son, Abiola Owoade, said, “The incident happened when my father was returning from his farm at Budo Aare within this local government area.

“Shortly after the abduction, the kidnappers contacted the family using the victim’s mobile phone and demanded a ransom of N30 million for his release.

“However, at about 8:20 a.m. on Sunday, July 12, 2026, a search team recovered his motorcycle abandoned in the bush,” he said.

Abiola Owoade called on the “Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, hunters, vigilantes and other security agencies to intervene and rescue his father.”

The victim’s colleagues and members of the education community in the local government also expressed sadness over the incident.

When contacted, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the incident on Monday.

The police spokesperson said, “I can confirm to you that a farmer, Mathew Owoade, was kidnapped at his farm in Budo Aare, and efforts are on to rescue the man unharmed and arrest the perpetrators.”

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have neutralised an ISWAP cameraman and recovered video recordings indicating the presence of three foreign terrorist facilitators, including a Palestinian identified as the group’s trainer and a Moroccan serving as a medical doctor for the insurgents.

The Acting Military Information Officer, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, Capt. Muhammed Goni disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

According to him, the operational success was recorded on Saturday after troops foiled an infiltration attempt by members of the Islamic State West Africa Province into Cross Kauwa in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

Goni said the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position and loot cholera medical supplies.

“The neutralisation of a terrorist cameraman during the failed assault led to the recovery of a Sony camcorder containing highly sensitive recordings of terrorist activities, including operational footage and propaganda materials.

“Preliminary forensic analysis of the last available video recorded before the attack indicates that the operation was coordinated by four senior ISWAP commanders (Qai’ds), alongside three foreign terrorist facilitators.

“They include a Palestinian identified as Abu Ishaq, assessed to be ISWAP’s overall trainer; a Moroccan identified as Abu Thaiba, a medical doctor serving within the terrorist network; and another Arab operative whose identity is yet to be established,” Goni added.

Goni said the presence and active involvement of the foreign nationals reinforced intelligence assessments that ISWAP continued to benefit from external support, specialist expertise and transnational terrorist linkages.

Goni said the failed attack occurred at about 10:20 p.m. on July 11, 2026, when the terrorists attempted to exploit the cover of darkness to breach the troops’ position.

“Alert troops swiftly detected the hostile movement and responded with coordinated and overwhelming firepower, compelling the terrorists to abandon their mission of looting cholera medical supplies and withdraw in confusion after suffering severe losses,” he said.

According to him, the attempted looting lends further credence to recent intelligence reports of a cholera outbreak within terrorist enclaves, as well as reports that some infected members had been executed by the group.

The statement added, “Troops of 19 Brigade, Sector 3, Joint Task Force North-East, Operation Hadin Kai, have decisively foiled an attempted infiltration by ISWAP terrorists into Cross Kauwa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, inflicting heavy casualties on the attackers and forcing them to retreat in disarray.

“The successful defence of the location further demonstrates the vigilance, combat readiness and operational effectiveness of troops who continue to deny terrorist elements freedom of action across the North-East theatre.

“Following the successful engagement, troops immediately dominated the area and conducted exploitation operations to ascertain the full extent of the terrorists’ losses.”

The Army spokesman said troops recovered the Sony camcorder, several rounds of PKT and 7.62mm special ammunition, terrorist uniforms and other combat equipment during the operation.

He added that initial analysis of post-engagement satellite imagery showed terrorists evacuating the bodies of some of their slain fighters during their withdrawal.

“This has since been corroborated by credible human intelligence sources, which confirmed that the terrorists suffered heavy casualties, with many others sustaining gunshot wounds during the engagement,” he said.

According to him, two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds during the firefight and were promptly evacuated by air for advanced medical care. He added that both personnel remained in stable condition.

“The failed infiltration attempt represents yet another significant operational setback for ISWAP and caps a costly weekend for the terrorist group following sustained offensive operations and intensified military pressure across the North-East theatre,” he said.

Goni added that the outcome underscored the increasing difficulty terrorists face in executing coordinated attacks against highly alert and combat-ready troops, while further degrading their combat capability, morale and freedom of action.

“Operation Hadin Kai remains resolute in sustaining offensive operations, protecting vulnerable communities and dismantling terrorist networks until lasting peace and security are fully restored across the North-East,” he assured.