By Kayode Olopade
The Lagos State Government has intensified regulatory oversight, wastewater management and sanitation governance through the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) as part of broader efforts to strengthen environmental sustainability and improve public health across the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, where he highlighted key achievements recorded by the ministry over the past year.
Wahab said LASWARCO had strengthened stakeholder engagement within the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector through a strategic collaboration meeting with WaterAid Nigeria aimed at deepening institutional partnership and enhancing regulatory frameworks guiding sanitation and wastewater management in Lagos.
According to him, the engagement focused on improving sector coordination, strengthening compliance standards and promoting sustainable sanitation practices capable of supporting cleaner and healthier communities across the state.
The commissioner explained that the initiative aligned with ongoing reforms and investments being implemented by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources to improve environmental management, potable water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
As part of efforts to reinforce compliance monitoring and operational efficiency, the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Barrister Oluwabukola Khadijah Adeyemo, led the Commission’s technical team on a statewide inspection of critical sewage and septic treatment facilities in collaboration with officials of the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office.
Facilities inspected during the exercise included the Iponri 2000m³ Sewage Treatment Plant, Odo Iyalaro Septic Handling Treatment Plant, Oregun Septic Handling Treatment Plant and the Alausa 2000m³ Sewage Treatment Plant.
During the inspection, officials conducted comprehensive assessments of treatment channels, valves, septic handling systems and treatment units to evaluate infrastructure integrity, operational efficiency and adherence to environmental and regulatory standards.
Government officials said the exercise formed part of proactive measures aimed at ensuring efficient wastewater treatment, safeguarding public health and promoting cleaner waterways throughout Lagos.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to strengthening sanitation governance and sustaining policies and interventions capable of guaranteeing safer communities and a healthier environment for residents.
On sanitation infrastructure, Wahab disclosed that the state government was constructing 20 additional public toilet facilities comprising 200 toilet units and 40 bathrooms to curb open defecation and improve hygiene conditions across the metropolis.
He added that more than 1,710 public toilets were already operational statewide as part of the government’s broader sanitation improvement programme.
Speaking on flood control measures, the commissioner said the government carried out maintenance dredging of 18 primary drainage channels covering approximately 76 kilometres, while 179 secondary drainage collectors spanning about 178 kilometres were cleaned to improve water flow and reduce flood risks.
He further revealed that authorities identified 2,218 structures obstructing drainage alignments, out of which 1,544 had been removed to restore waterways and protect vulnerable communities from flooding.
According to Wahab, contracts were also awarded for the construction of more than 100 kilometres of secondary collector drains and 30 kilometres of primary drainage channels between April 2025 and April 2026 as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a flood-resilient Lagos.
In the water sector, the commissioner disclosed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu recently commissioned the rehabilitated one-million-gallon-per-day Akilo Mini Waterworks in Ogba to improve potable water supply to over 100,000 residents in Agege, Ogba, Ojodu and adjoining communities.
He added that the Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant, designed to produce 70 million gallons of water daily, had attained 98 per cent pipeline installation completion and remained on course for delivery later in 2026.
Wahab also announced the deployment of robotic crawler technology by the Lagos Water Corporation for underground pipeline inspections, describing the innovation as a major technological breakthrough aimed at reducing water losses, improving leak detection and modernising water infrastructure management across the state.
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