By Kayode Olopade
The Lagos State Government has recorded significant strides in waste management, climate governance and flood control as part of ongoing efforts to transform the state into a cleaner, safer and environmentally sustainable megacity under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
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 the state government had intensified environmental sustainability initiatives through strategic investments in waste management infrastructure, climate resilience projects, drainage expansion and improved water supply systems.
According to him, Lagos currently generates more than 13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, prompting the government to accelerate its transition from the traditional “collect-and-dump” waste model to a modern zero-waste economy anchored on recycling, waste conversion and resource recovery.
He explained that the state had entered into partnerships with both local and international organisations aimed at reducing pressure on landfill sites while creating economic opportunities across the waste value chain.
As part of efforts to convert waste into wealth, Wahab said the government commissioned a Waste-to-Energy Biodigester Plant at Ikosi Fruit Market in February to process organic waste into biogas and organic fertilizer.
“The plant processes 0.5 tonnes of organic waste daily and generates 30kWh of electricity for market lighting and cold storage facilities,” he said, adding that the initiative would also significantly reduce carbon emissions.
The commissioner noted that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) expanded landfill infrastructure, improved operational efficiency and entered into 12 new environmental sustainability partnerships during the review period.
In the healthcare sector, Wahab disclosed that the state strengthened medical waste management by deploying 35 Private Sector Participation operators to healthcare facilities, with between 80,000 and 105,000 kilograms of medical waste treated monthly from over 3,900 registered health facilities across Lagos.
He further revealed that environmental enforcement operations led to the arrest of 931 offenders for waste-related infractions, while authorities inspected 2,251 facilities, issued 1,711 contravention notices and sealed 239 premises for environmental violations.
On climate governance, the commissioner said Lagos retained its position as Nigeria’s leading state in climate governance for the second consecutive year after scoring 315 out of 360 in the 2025 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating.
He added that the state also successfully hosted the 2025 Lagos International Climate Change Summit themed, “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,” attracting policymakers, climate experts and international investors.
Wahab said the government intensified enforcement of the ban on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics as part of measures to tackle environmental pollution and protect drainage channels from blockage.
According to him, banned plastic materials worth about ₦5 million were confiscated, while more than 137,000 kilograms of plastic waste were removed from the environment during the review period.
The commissioner also disclosed that the state was constructing 20 new public toilet facilities comprising 200 toilet units and 40 bathrooms to combat open defecation, noting that over 1,710 public toilets were already operational across Lagos.
On flood control infrastructure, Wahab said the government carried out maintenance dredging of 18 primary drainage channels covering approximately 76 kilometres, while 179 secondary drainage collectors spanning 178 kilometres were cleaned across the state.
He added that officials identified 2,218 structures obstructing drainage alignments and removed 1,544 of them to restore waterways and reduce flood risks in vulnerable communities.
The commissioner further disclosed that contracts were awarded for over 100 kilometres of secondary collector drains and 30 kilometres of primary drainage channels between April 2025 and April 2026 as part of broader efforts to achieve a flood-free Lagos.
In the water sector, Wahab said Governor Sanwo-Olu commissioned the rehabilitated one-million-gallon-per-day Akilo Mini Waterworks in Ogba to improve potable water supply to more than 100,000 residents in Agege, Ogba, Ojodu and neighbouring communities.
He added that the Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant, designed to produce 70 million gallons of water daily, had reached 98 per cent pipeline installation completion and remained on track 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 step toward reducing water losses, improving leak detection and modernising water infrastructure management across the state.
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