The Lagos State Waste Management Agency has increased waste disposal tariff by at least 50 per cent to be able to meet increasing operating costs.
Bode Coker, the Chairman of the Lagos Waste Managers’ Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos that the old tariff had been in force for more than six years.
Coker said that implementation of the new tariff would be in batches, starting from some the local government level.
Giving a breakdown of the tariff, Coker said that the tariff per flat increased from N500 to N750, while the charge per room moved up from N100 to N200.
The tariff for a shop is now N300 instead of N200, according to the chairman.
Coker said that the increase was necessary to improve service delivery and ensure effective maintenance of working tools.
He said: “It is over six years since we reviewed waste tariff last.
“We just have to increase it to enable us to improve services, do maintenance and take care of other issues.
“I know residents may not like it, but they should just consider the cost of living and cost of doing business in the country, which have all gone up.”
The chairman promised that there would be improved service delivery, following the tariff increase.
Meanwhile, some Lagos residents have expressed displeasure at the development.
They told NAN in Shomulu, Fadeyi, Iyana Ipaja and Surulere that the reviewed tariff was high.
Agustina Odigwe, a resident of Fadeyi, said that the tariff would be burdensome.
Odigwe claimed that LAWMA services had been declining.
She said: “The service delivery has really declined.
“Now they are increasing the tariff.
“It will be difficult for me to pay because they don’t really come to pick the refuse as and when due.”
Sola Oke, a printer in Itire/Ikate, also said that he was dissatisfied with the development.
Oke urged the agency to improve its services to justify the increase.
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