…Arrests 3,786 environmental violators
IBRAHIM QUADRI
With over 13,000 solid waste being generated daily in Lagos, the State Government on Friday said it is committed to revolutionize the State’s waste management process from a linear system to a sustainable circular economy.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab made this known while addressing the media during the year 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja, saying that providing workable practical solutions to the management of generated waste would ensure that a drastically reduced quantum get to the landfill sites.
He said the State generates over 13,000 metric tonnes of solid wastes daily and Government initiated the signing of several Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that would not only develop Waste to resource opportunity but improved collection, recycling of solid and liquid waste as well as the establishment of a smelting plant for the conversion of electronic waste which will tranform Lagos as a leader in electronic waste recycling.
Wahab explained that the State Government also signed an MOU with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium, for the construction of a high efficiency 60-80 MW Waste-to-Energy plant on Epe landfill, which will utilize advanced technology to generate clean energy from municipal solid waste, commercial and industrial waste translating to the consumption of about 2,500 tonnes daily of municipal solid waste.
He added that the last MOU signed with Lafarge Africa/Geocycle will address the treatment of non-recyclable combustible waste and diversion of all waste from landfills, converting them into industrial energy saying all these the collaboration would position Lagos at the fore front of waste recovery, recycling and energy generation.
“Our attempt in the last one year is to ensure Lagos evolves into a megacity with sustainable waste processing, modernized landfill management, cleaner waterways and structured Sanitation systems” he said.
He explained that Lagos had been pragmatic and decisive in transitioning to a sustainable circular economy by banning the sale, distribution and use of Styrofoam food packs, a major contributor to urban flooding and clogged drains with positive results recorded from subsequent drainage clearance process adding that the enforcement of the ban on Single Use Plastics (SUPs) has commenced from the beginning of the Year 2025 while the promotion of sustainable alternatives and extended producer responsibility is being advocated.
He stressed that the Government has continued to facilitate meetings with concerned stakeholders as regards the Ban on styrofoam and single-use plastics adding that during the period under review 351 cubic meter of Styrofoam containers have been confiscated which translated to 123.95 metric tonnes.
He said in order to sustain a clean city, 15,000 street sweepers are deployed across highways, inner roads and markets daily whilst also ensuring stronger enforcement of environmental laws as well as penalizing indiscriminate waste disposal defaulters alongside several measures.
The Commissioner added that Government had also consolidated an enforcement campaign through collaboration with the sister para-military Agencies in line with the provision of the 2017 Lagos State Environmental Protection and Management Law to effect the arrest of almost 700 persons for highway crossing which endangers their lives.
He stressed that the state in order to curb open defecation is constructing additional modern public toilets in markets, transport hubs and informal settlements just as the construction of 150 new public toilets is on-going, another 250 toilets is being executed through Public Private Partnership under the WASH initiative saying these facilities would improve access to proper sanitation/ hygiene across the State .
He said the Ministry has also inaugurated the Anti Open Defecation Squad at Lagos Ibadan Expressway ( Ojodu Berger axis) to ensure that environmental nuisances such as indiscriminate wastes disposal, open urination and defecation on road medians and pedestrian walkway is eradicated in the axis while Clean – Up exercises was carried out at Ikeja Kodesho Bridge, Oshodi -Oke bridge and Iyana Iba interchange bridge.
According to him, the Environmental Enforcement Agency of the Ministry known as KAI has been in operation to compliment the functions of other Agencies in the Environment sector by ensuring strict adherence to the sanitation laws.
“Following the enforcement of the use of pedestrian bridges, 6,789 persons were arrested for failure to use pedestrian bridges; The Agency also served 192 Environmental Abatement Notices, Arrested 150 people for Open Defecation on the pedestrian bridges who have dislodged and the bridges cleaned up”.
He added that a total of 3786 Street Traders, Environmental polluters and cart pushers were arrested and prosecuted, saying Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) team in collaboration with the State Task force on Environmental and Special Offences also effected the clearing of rail tracks as well as demolition of shanties under the Apongbon Bridge, Lekki, Victoria Island, Agege, Obalende and Lagos Badagry Expressway.
He stressed that as a result of the partnership with various organisations in waste conversion, the state recorded less incidences of flash floods across the metropolis because the drains now effectively contain storm water run offs instead of being filled with waste, sand and silt.
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