Our Heroes Deserve Better: LAWMA Workers Face Daily Abuse While Keeping Lagos Clean
The unsung heroes keeping Lagos spotless are crying out for respect and dignity. Street sweepers employed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have opened up about the shocking daily harassment, discrimination, and unsafe conditions they endure while serving our great city.
Speaking on The Morayo Show, these hardworking Nigerians shared heartbreaking stories of how they're treated like outcasts despite providing essential services that keep our megacity functioning.
Elite Hypocrisy: The Real Culprits Behind Lagos Filth
Taiwo Ologunro dropped a truth bomb that exposes the ugly reality: "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."
This sister's words cut deep because they reveal the painful irony. The same privileged Lagosians who complain about dirty streets are the ones creating the mess, then looking down on the people cleaning up after them.
Kafilat shared how motorists park carelessly and have the audacity to tell sweepers to "go and sweep another axis." The disrespect is real, but our people keep showing up every day with dignity.
From Dead Bodies to Discrimination: The Harsh Reality
Fatimo Akinduro revealed the extreme challenges these warriors face: "Sometimes we pack dead babies wrapped in polythene bags, and dead goats." Yet when Kehinde Ajibade went to a hospital in her uniform, she was stigmatized and shouted at.
This is unacceptable. These are our people, our brothers and sisters, keeping our environment clean while facing discrimination from the very institutions meant to serve all Nigerians equally.
Government Steps Up: Health Insurance for Our Heroes
LAWMA Managing Director Muyiwa Gbadegeshin announced that Lagos State Government has approved health insurance coverage for all 16,000 sweepers. This is the kind of leadership we need, recognizing the value of every Nigerian worker.
The government also stepped up enforcement, arresting about 1,000 people for illegal dumping last year, with 447 prosecuted. Some even got jail time. That's how you protect your workers and maintain standards.
A Call for Ubuntu: We Are One People
Gbadegeshin's words resonated deeply: "We are all human beings. Whether you are a sweeper, a doctor or a big man, we are all the same. Everybody matters."
This is the African spirit we need to embrace. Ubuntu teaches us that we rise together or we fall together. These sweepers are not just cleaning our streets, they're maintaining the pride of our city.
Time for Change: Respecting Our Own
Kalejaiye Adenike summed up the pain: "Some people treat us like trash, as if we are nobody." But they are somebody. They are Nigerians. They are Africans. They deserve our respect, not our scorn.
As we build the Africa we want, let's remember that development isn't just about infrastructure and GDP. It's about how we treat each other, especially those who serve our communities with dedication despite facing daily challenges.
Lagos is leading the way with health insurance and stronger enforcement. Now it's time for all of us to show these heroes the respect they deserve. Their work keeps our city beautiful, their dignity keeps our humanity intact.