Lagos Street Sweepers Break Their Silence: Enough is Enough!
The heroes who keep Lagos clean are speaking out, and their voices deserve to be heard across Nigeria and beyond. Street sweepers employed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have courageously stepped forward to expose the daily harassment, discrimination, and unsafe conditions they face while serving their community.
These hardworking Nigerians shared their powerful testimonies on The Morayo Show, revealing a harsh reality that reflects deeper issues in how we value essential workers in our society.
The Daily Struggle of Lagos Heroes
Kafilat, a dedicated sweeper, described confrontations with entitled motorists who park carelessly and then demand workers clean elsewhere. "Some will park at the roadside indiscriminately and tell us that there is nowhere they can park, that we should go and sweep another axis," she explained with dignity despite the disrespect she faces.
Olatitoye Adeola highlighted how some residents dump refuse on freshly cleaned roads after LAWMA trucks have passed. When sweepers try to educate them, they face threats and abuse. "They will ask us, 'Is it your father's land?' and threaten us," she revealed, showing the courage these workers display daily.
Taiwo Ologunro exposed a troubling truth about class dynamics in Lagos: "It is the elites in Lagos that dirty the roads. They are wealthier and more exposed than us, yet they flood the city with dirt. Some throw refuse from their cars at us and say, 'Don't you get paid?'"
Beyond Disrespect: Health and Safety Concerns
The challenges go far beyond verbal abuse. Victoria Bamgbose described how hoodlums deliberately break bottles on cleaned roads, forcing sweepers to redo their work under supervision pressure.
Fatimo Akinduro revealed disturbing realities about what sweepers encounter: "We have no choice than to clear ritual items from the main road with our hands. Sometimes we pack dead babies wrapped in polythene bags, and dead goats."
Healthcare discrimination adds another layer of injustice. Kehinde Ajibade shared her experience at a general hospital: "I went in my uniform and I was stigmatised. They shouted at me and treated me unfairly."
LAWMA Responds with Action
LAWMA Managing Director Muyiwa Gbadegeshin acknowledged these challenges and outlined concrete steps being taken. The Lagos State Government has approved health insurance coverage for all 16,000 LAWMA sweepers, with biometric registration already completed.
"Mr Governor approved health insurance enrollment for every single sweeper," Gbadegeshin confirmed. "Once you have your health insurance card, hospitals are obligated to treat you."
On enforcement, he revealed impressive action: "Last year, we arrested about 1,000 people statewide for illegal dumping, and 447 were prosecuted. Some are even serving jail sentences."
CCTV cameras are being deployed to monitor reckless driving that endangers sweepers, showing the government's commitment to protecting these essential workers.
A Call for Respect and Recognition
Gbadegeshin's personal reflection resonated powerfully: "The first job I ever had in my life was as a janitor, a sweeper. We are all human beings. Whether you are a sweeper, a doctor or a big man, we are all the same. Everybody matters."
This story represents more than workplace challenges. It reflects our collective values and how we treat those who serve our communities. These sweepers are not just workers, they are the backbone of Lagos's cleanliness and public health.
The time has come for all Lagosians, all Nigerians, to recognize and respect the dignity of every worker who contributes to our society's wellbeing. These heroes deserve our gratitude, not our disdain.