In the wake of a trending message by an NYSC member from the Southeast, who alleged that Lagos “smells,” our investigative team at HeadlineNews.News embarked on a fact-finding mission to assess waste management conditions across regions, particularly in the Southeastern states. The aim was to objectively evaluate the basis of this perception and determine where the stench truly emanates from.
What we found challenges the prevailing narrative.
While Lagos—Nigeria’s most densely populated state—undoubtedly faces waste management challenges common to mega cities, it is important to place these issues within the context of the state’s ongoing, structured, and scalable responses. From a well-established Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to strategic collaborations with the private sector and international stakeholders, Lagos continues to make significant investments to mitigate waste-related issues. Most recently, the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a reputable foreign firm to enhance recycling and improve sustainable waste processing. These are not efforts of a state in denial—but of one working actively towards environmental sanity.
In contrast, our team found that many Southeastern cities and towns are grappling with alarming levels of waste accumulation. From Owerri to Aba, Onitsha to Enugu, the stench from improperly disposed waste in open drains, roadside heaps, and overflowing gutters painted a grim picture. In some areas, waste is not collected for days, even weeks. The lack of modern landfill sites, efficient collection systems, public awareness campaigns, and enforceable waste management laws has exacerbated an already dire situation.
The stakeholders of Anambra state appeal to the Executive Governor, Prof Soludo, to clean up the smell in the state, especially the communities where waste has obstructed the road and access has become impossible for residents.
Public health experts have raised concerns about the long-term risks posed by this neglect—ranging from cholera outbreaks to vector-borne diseases. Unlike Lagos, most states in the Southeast lack a centralized waste management authority with the capacity to handle the scale of refuse generated daily. Equipment is outdated or non-existent, public-private partnerships are rare, and waste recycling—still in its infancy—is practically nonexistent in many areas.
It would therefore be misleading to single out Lagos, a state making verifiable strides in environmental management, when the Southeast is contending with deeper, systemic waste problems that remain largely unaddressed. Environmental pollution is a national concern and should not be reduced to regional bias or anecdotal commentary.
Stakeholders and state governments in the Southeast must urgently prioritize sustainable waste management solutions by investing in infrastructure, partnering with environmental experts, and enforcing sanitation laws. Civil society must also play a role in promoting environmental consciousness and holding public officials accountable.
Rather than trading insults, this moment should inspire states across Nigeria to emulate the best practices of Lagos—by adopting long-term waste solutions that protect public health and promote a cleaner, more sustainable Nigeria.
Headlinenews.news investigative Team.
