The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) has intensified stakeholder engagement to strengthen septage management and improve operational safety across Lagos State.
Eko Hot News reports that the engagement, held at the LSWMO headquarters in Ikeja, brought together operators from the Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants Managers Association of Lagos (FASTMAL) and the Sewage and Wastewater Dislodgers Association of Nigeria (SWADAN) to align standards across the septage management value chain.
Speaking at the meeting, the General Manager of LSWMO, Adefemi Afolabi, stressed the need for structured action plans to standardise operations and enforce strict compliance with environmental and safety regulations statewide.
He noted that Lagos’ rapid urban growth demands an urgent expansion of wastewater infrastructure, adding that additional faecal sludge treatment plants are required to meet rising volumes generated across the metropolis.
Afolabi emphasised that infrastructure growth must be matched with operational discipline, warning that safety breaches at jetty discharge points and during haulage operations pose serious public health and environmental risks.
He stated that LSWMO would not compromise on safety standards, insisting on strict adherence to approved protocols at all five septage handling stations operating in Lagos State.
The General Manager also called for the upgrading and retrofitting of septage haulage trucks, explaining that improved fleet conditions would reduce spillages, enhance safety, and ensure compliance with regulatory benchmarks.
He added that LSWMO remains committed to standardising procedures across all facilities, including vehicle refleeting and operational upgrades to align with prescribed environmental and safety requirements.
Leading the FASTMAL delegation, President Babatunde Oshodi commended the agency for creating an inclusive platform for dialogue and sector-wide reform.
Oshodi said the engagement strengthens synergy between regulators and operators, reaffirming FASTMAL’s commitment to improving treatment plant efficiency, compliance monitoring, and responsible sludge disposal practices across Lagos.
Representatives of SWADAN also pledged full cooperation with LSWMO, committing to enforce safety compliance among desludgers and upgrade haulage fleets for improved efficiency.
They further assured alignment with evolving regulatory frameworks aimed at safeguarding public health, environmental sustainability, and operational integrity within the wastewater sector.
LSWMO noted that sustained collaboration with operators remains critical to building a resilient, safe, and environmentally responsible septage management system for Lagos residents.
