**4. Conclusions**

While there are many opportunities in private sector involvement, it should not be seen as a panacea—a supposed cure for all problems. In fact, partnerships with the private sector can worsen the state of SWM if all the stakeholders involved are not committed to fulfilling their distinct roles. The role of the public sector changes from direct involvement in construction and service provision, to ensuring that the PPP delivers value for money for the governmen<sup>t</sup> and better services for users. In Lagos, unlike other cities in Nigeria, many of the partnerships with the private sector in SWM

are with agencies with an understanding of standard SWM practices and the financial and technical capacity to deliver services e fficiently.

Solid waste managemen<sup>t</sup> in many developing countries especially Nigeria is not where it ought to be. Lapses in collection, treatment and disposal militate against the e ffective managemen<sup>t</sup> of waste generated in many major cities. Relying on public-private partnerships (PPPs) without providing the necessary legal and institutional framework will not produce the desired results in e ffective SWM.
