Sanwo-Olu Makes Fresh Appointment, Redeploys Officers

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has appointed Olajuwon Akinyemi as the acting Managing Director of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), following growing concerns over waste disposal and sanitation challenges across the state.

Akinyemi replaces Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, who was asked to resign amid complaints over heaps of refuse littering major roads, residential areas and drainage channels in different parts of Lagos.

The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Tijani Olorunwa as acting Director of Operations, while Kunle Adebiyi will retain his position as Executive Director of Finance.

In a move aimed at restructuring the authority, the state government has approved the redeployment of several senior LAWMA officials to other departments and agencies within the Lagos State public service.

Under the arrangement, officers on Salary Grade Levels 13 to 17 will be transferred to the mainstream Lagos State Civil Service, local governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

However, officials in the Legal Department have been exempted from the exercise to prevent disruptions to ongoing court cases and concession agreements being handled by the agency.

The heads of Landfill Operations, LAWMA Operations and Private Sector Participation Operations have also been temporarily exempted from the transfers for an initial period of 90 days.

Akinyemi, who hails from Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, is an experienced public administrator.

Before his latest appointment, President Bola Tinubu named him Deputy Executive Secretary (Technical) of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2025.

He had also served in the Lagos State public service and previously held the position of Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Lagos State Office of Infrastructure.

His appointment comes as the state government moves to reorganise LAWMA and address concerns over refuse collection, waste disposal and environmental sanitation across Lagos.