You Don’t Have The Authority To Remain In Office – Rhodes-Vivour Blasts Tokunbo Wahab Over Lagos Waste Crisis

The Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has slammed the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, over the state’s waste management system.

Naija News reports that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a post on 𝕏, directed an immediate scale-up of waste evacuation across Lagos amid growing complaintsaboutr refuse accumulation in parts of the state.

A war of words subsequently ensued between Wahab and Rhodes-Vivour.

Reacting to the governor’s statement on Thursday, Rhodes-Vivour argued that the announcement amounted to “an admission of failure, not a solution.”

According to him, Lagos residents deserve a functional waste management system that prevents refuse from piling up rather than periodic emergency evacuations.

Responding in a lengthy statement on Saturday, Wahab acknowledged residents’ concerns but defended the government’s record, saying Lagos evacuates an average of 13,200 tonnes of waste daily through the Lagos Waste Management Authority and Private Sector Participation operators.

He explained that challenges such as poor road access, rainfall, rising operational costs, underperforming PSP operators and poor payment compliance contribute to occasional service disruptions.

According to the commissioner, LAWMA has intensified monitoring, sanctioned weak operators, reviewed failing routes and continued daily clearance of about 3,000 waste black spots across 57 routes.

He also highlighted ongoing reforms, including the construction of Transfer Loading Stations, Material Recovery Facilities in Ikorodu and Badagry, and the launch of the Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester aimed at converting organic waste into biogas, electricity and fertiliser.

While admitting that some residents had experienced poor service, Wahab insisted that the government was actively addressing the challenges.

However, Rhodes-Vivour dismissed the explanation, saying the commissioner’s “1,578-word” response did not reflect the realities experienced by Lagos residents.

“Impact is felt, not explained in 1,578 words.

“Your plastic policy has failed.

“Your environmental policy, if one truly exists, has been ineffective.

“Your waste management policy has been an unmitigated disaster,” he wrote.

The former governorship candidate further accused Wahab of focusing on demolitions and called on him to resign.

“You have lost the moral authority to remain in office. You should resign. Today,” Rhodes-Vivour said.

In a final response, Wahab rejected the call, saying he would not engage in “mudslinging and distractions.”

The commissioner defended his public service record, stating that his priority remained supporting the Lagos State Government’s efforts to improve residents’ welfare.

“I have no intention of engaging in personal attacks or trading insults with a political nomad driven by ignorance and needless hatred,” Wahab said.

He added that if his commitment to protecting the interests of Lagosians was described as bigotry, he made “no apologies” for standing by those principles.