Lagos State Government on Sunday stated that it is committed to a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to ensure a clean, resilient and livable city, dispelling viral insinuations that the state is smelling.
A release signed by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Barr. Tokunbo Wahab, reeled out practical measures the state is taking to demonstrate that Lagos is rather evolving and not smelling.
In his words: “Lagos is not smelling, it is evolving toward sustainable waste processing, modernised landfill management, cleaner waterways and structured sanitation systems. The present administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains steadfast in its commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable city through strategic environmental initiatives”.
He argued that the state government is fully committed to environmental sustainability and has developed a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to ensure a clean, resilient and livable city. Waste and sanitation challenges in a rapidly growing mega city like Lagos require structural solutions, not sound bites or political rhetorics.
Other measures undertaken by the State Government, according to Wahab, include the installation of over 50 Air Quality monitors across the state at strategic locations to capture industrial, transport and household emissions.
Mr. Wahab said in line with the State THEMES Plus Agenda, LAWMA has expanded waste collection services to hard-to-reach communities and in partnership with Ibeju Lekki Local Government, tricycle compactors have been introduced to provide waste collection services on a pay-as-you go model in areas with non-motorable roads.
The Commissioner also revealed that the model will be expanded later this year with the introduction of 500 tricycle compactors across similar areas. He explained that within the next 18 months, the state will close Olusosun and Solous three landfills, transitioning them into modern Transfer Loading Stations where waste will be sorted, compacted and redirected to recycling facilities.
He said Lagos is also advancing its Waste to Energy project in Epe that will process 2500 tonnes of Municipal solid waste daily generates 60-80 megawatts of electricity, contributing clean energy to the Lagos power grid.
In addition to a ban on styrofoam food packs, the State has also commenced the phasing out of single use plastics while promoting sustainable alternatives and Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) among manufacturers.
“The State Government has signed multiple Memoranda of Understanding MOU with international partners to develop waste-to-resource initiatives that will ensure that Lagos remains at the forefront of waste recovery, recycling and energy generation”, he added.
Wahab maintained that in the past two years, industrial effluent discharge into the Lagos waterways have reduced by 25 percent owing to the consistency of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) in regulating their discharge through permits, fines, penalties and outright publicised seals.
He stated that the State is already implementing bio-remediation techniques to improve surface water quality through natural purification processes to improve the quality of water in the lagoon and canals. He informed that the state through the Waste Water Management Office (LASWMO) has deployed three Modular Septage Pre-Treatment plants (MSPP) enabling efficient treatment of fecal sludge before discharge into the Odo Iya Alaro water body.
He added that the LASWMO also enforces strict compliance among members of the Sewage and Wastewater Dislodgers Association of Nigeria to prevent water indiscriminate dumping of wastewater and ensure best practices in sewage evacuation.
The Commissioner stated that as part of the street sanitation exercise, 15,000 street sweepers are daily deployed across highways, inner roads and markets as well as stronger enforcement of environmental laws.
“In addressing open defecation, the state is embarking on continuous sensitisation and the construction of an additional 150 public toilets which will be complemented by another 250 to be built through public-private partnership”, he explained.
Wahab stated that the present administration is also partnering local government areas and local council development areas to maintain the over 1710 public toilets across parks, markets and residential areas.
In order to make Lagos greener and healthier, Wahab said the State Parks and Garden Agency recently launched a “Trees for Lagos” campaign that will ensure the planting of an additional 50,000 trees in two years.
The trees will be planted in carefully selected locations on major highways, railway routes, industrial areas, public and private estates, schools and hospitals.