Lagos State recycled 405.17 tonnes of electronic waste in 2025, according to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA). The figure was disclosed by LAWMA Managing Director Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria. He noted that the 2025 total exceeds the 355.15 tonnes processed in 2024 and follows 305.63 tonnes collected in 2023, indicating a steady rise in formal recycling activity.
Gbadegesin said the state government has stepped up advocacy and created structures to ensure safe e‑waste handling. "The government is doing its best to promote safe handling of e‑waste in Lagos State," he said. He added that "the government recognised the importance of managing e‑waste and set up an e‑Waste Unit to coordinate its management in the state." The authority also highlighted that "the Lagos State Government has increased advocacy and awareness around safe handling of e‑waste" and that "it has also certified recycling companies and collection centres." LAWMA works with 17 certified recycling firms and approved collection points, directing waste to these facilities to guarantee proper treatment.
Environmental experts warned that challenges remain. Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director of Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, described e‑waste as "highly hazardous, containing toxic substances such as arsenic, which pose serious health risks, especially to children and women." He stressed that "e‑waste begins at the household level, so awareness must start from homes, not just within the informal recycling sector" and called for "dedicated bins and structured sorting systems to support recyclers." Additional voices, including LASEPA's e‑waste director Mrs Adedayo Adebayo, Renevlyn Development Initiative's Philip Jakpor, and Association of Scrap and Wastepickers of Lagos President Friday Oku, highlighted low public awareness and the continued reliance on informal handlers.
The agency plans to expand certification of recyclers and strengthen enforcement as Lagos moves toward a more formalised e‑waste management system.
The most striking element of Lagos' e‑waste story is the contrast between rising recycling volumes and the persistent dependence on informal operators. While the state reports a record 405.17 tonnes processed, officials acknowledge that "the current system of e‑waste handling and disposal relied heavily
