Sanwo-Olu Says Lagos Is Resilient, Innovative In Tackling Environmental Challenges

The Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the resilience and innovativeness of the State in tackling environmental challenges confronting its development as a low-line, coastal Megacity.

Speaking during the World Habitat Day Celebration held on Monday at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, the Governor noted that in line with the celebration’s theme, “Accelerating Urban Action For Carbon-Free World”, Lagos State, through a compact city planning, aimed to reduce emission by targeting critical sectors such as housing, energy and waste management, among others.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, said: “We have retrofitted our economy by adopting energy-saving alternatives as a decisive step towards reducing carbon footprint in the State”.

He added that initiatives like Tree Planting Campaigns, Landscaping and Beautification of open spaces, climate change advocacy summits and the promotion of waste recycling have become institutionalised in response to the environmental challenges in Lagos State.

Noting the inherent opportunities resulting from Climate Change in the State, Sanwo-Olu said his administration has recently signed the N25 Billion Green Bond Market Agreement to galvanise viable financing options for green and sustainable projects in areas such as climate change adaptive transportation, housing, health and agriculture among others.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, stated that successive topics of the celebration had underscored the importance of the environment, particularly the built environment, as a superstructure interconnecting other important sectors.

While calling on stakeholders to reflect and take progressive steps forward in the vanguard of a livable and sustainable city that is carbon-free and climate-resilient, Salako stated that the theme of this year’s celebration is a clarion call for actionable plans and strategies for the achievement of a truly sustainable world for all.

The Guest Speaker from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Lagos, Prof. Taibat Lawanson, noted that carbon emission was prevalent in urban centres, such as Lagos, with high population density, small landmass as well high commercial and industrial activities.

She called for proactive measures in accelerating action for a carbon-free State, through sustainable measures in transportation, energy, agriculture and other areas.