Lagos Not Smelling But Evolving, Says Environment Commissioner
The Lagos State Government has dismissed viral claims that the state is “smelling,” insisting that Lagos is evolving into a cleaner and more resilient megacity.
A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, had alleged in a now-viral video that Lagos reeks of filth—a claim that has been widely supported by social media users, including the 2023 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the state, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.
However, in a press statement released on Sunday, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, outlined the state’s ongoing initiatives to improve waste management, air quality, and sanitation.
He emphasized that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration remains committed to building a sustainable environment through strategic policies and infrastructural development.
Wahab highlighted several measures aimed at addressing waste and sanitation challenges in the rapidly growing city. He noted that over 50 air quality monitors have been installed across Lagos to track emissions from industrial, transport, and household sources.
Additionally, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has expanded its services to hard-to-reach communities, introducing tricycle compactors in partnership with the Ibeju Lekki Local Government. This initiative allows residents in areas with non-motorable roads to dispose of waste on a pay-as-you-go basis, with plans to roll out 500 more tricycle compactors later this year.
The commissioner also announced plans to shut down the Olusosun and Solous 3 landfills within the next 18 months. These sites will be converted into modern transfer loading stations where waste will be sorted, compacted, and sent to recycling facilities.
Furthermore, Lagos is advancing its Waste-to-Energy project in Epe, which is expected to process 2,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily and generate between 60 and 80 megawatts of electricity for the state’s power grid.
In its efforts to reduce plastic pollution, the state has banned styrofoam food packs and begun phasing out single-use plastics while promoting sustainable alternatives. Manufacturers are also being encouraged to adopt Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) practices to minimize plastic waste.
On water pollution control, Wahab revealed that industrial effluent discharge into Lagos waterways has decreased by 25 per cent over the past two years due to strict enforcement by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
He added that the government has implemented bio-remediation techniques to naturally purify surface water in lagoons and canals.
““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,” Wahab added.
Lagos Not Smelling But Evolving, Says Environment Commissioner is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
