Families Of Slain Lagos Street Sweepers Get Financial Support

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has presented cheques to families of sweepers who lost their lives in the course of service and others who sustained injuries while on duty.

Managing director and chief executive officer of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, while commenting on the financial support reaffirmed the authority’s dedication to protecting the lives and livelihoods of sanitation workers, describing them as frontline environmental heroes who play a vital role in keeping Lagos clean and habitable.

He said, “Our sanitation workers go to great lengths, often under very risky conditions to maintain environmental sanity across the state. As a responsible organisation, we have a moral and institutional obligation to support them, not just in words but in action, especially when accidents or unfortunate incidents occur while on duty. This gesture is our way of saying: we see you, we value you, and we will always stand by you”.

Gbadegesin explained that the financial assistance was part of LAWMA’s structured welfare package for sanitation workers under its operational coverage, which includes accident compensation, insurance, regular health checks and periodic safety training.

He added that the initiative aligned with the authority’s broader commitment to human dignity, social equity, and inclusive governance, noting that no sanitation worker should be left to suffer in silence or neglect due to work-related hazards.

“At LAWMA, we believe that social protection is not an option but a necessity. As we work tirelessly to improve the city’s waste management systems, we are equally investing in the people who power that system. Their wellbeing remains central to our mission,” he noted.

He reiterated the importance of health and safety practices among sanitation workers and urged sanitation workers to remain vigilant, especially when operating in high-traffic areas and at night, assuring that the authority would continue to upgrade its health and safety protocols to minimise occupational risks.