Street sweepers employed by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have spoken out about what they describe as daily harassment, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions on Lagos roads, saying they are treated with disrespect despite the essential service they provide to the state.

The workers shared their experiences during a recent episode of The Morayo Show, which celebrated their contribution to environmental sanitation while also giving them a platform to highlight the harsh realities they face on the job.

Several sweepers said they are frequently abused by motorists, residents, and roadside traders, who often make their work more difficult and unsafe.

Kafilat, one of the sweepers, recounted regular confrontations with motorists who park indiscriminately on major roads.

“Some will park at the roadside and tell us there is nowhere they can park, that we should go and sweep another axis. And the spot they direct us to is another person’s portion,” she said.

Another sweeper, Olatitoye Adeola, lamented the habit of residents dumping refuse on already cleaned roads after LAWMA trucks have evacuated waste.

“People bring refuse from their houses and dump it on the road. When we caution them, they are ready to beat us. They will ask us, ‘Is it your father’s land?’ and threaten us,” she said.

Taiwo Ologunro described how their efforts are often undone by roadside traders and residents who dirty cleaned areas repeatedly.

“When we finish our work and return, the traders have dirtied the place again. It is the elites in Lagos who dirty the roads. They throw refuse from their cars and tell us, ‘Don’t you get paid?’” she said.

She also raised concerns about open defecation on highways and inner roads, adding that sweepers are forced to pack human waste with their hands.

“The stench is terrible. Commuters complain too, but nothing changes. I just hope something can be done,” she added.

Victoria Bamgbose spoke about harassment from hoodlums and roadside sellers, who deliberately dirty cleaned areas, forcing sweepers to redo their work under supervision.

“Hoodlums break bottles on the road, and we have to resweep because our supervisors will check. Please help us speak to them,” she appealed.

Fatimo Akinduro revealed that sweepers are sometimes required to clear ritual items and remains dumped at road junctions.

“We pack dead babies wrapped in polythene bags, dead goats, and ritual items. If it’s a dead body, we call our bosses or the 112 line,” she said.

Another worker, Kehinde Ajibade, noted that while welfare and payment were generally manageable, access to healthcare remained a serious challenge for many sweepers.

The testimonies have renewed public attention on the harsh conditions faced by LAWMA sweepers, who remain at the frontline of keeping Lagos clean, often without adequate protection, dignity, or societal respect.