By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving a cleaner, flood-free, and sustainable environment through strengthened collaboration with all 57 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the state.
This was the focus of a strategic meeting held on Wednesday in Alausa, Ikeja, where the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, met with council chairmen to discuss coordinated efforts towards improving waste management and flood control.
Mr. Wahab emphasised the need for residents to adopt proper sanitation as a daily lifestyle, noting that Lagos is transitioning from a “pick and drop” linear waste system to a circular model where waste is treated as a resource.
He urged council leaders to collaborate with the state government in reducing the volume of waste ending up in landfills and ensuring sustainable environmental practices at the grassroots.
The Commissioner noted that the government is set to decommission the Olusosun and Solous III landfills, which have exceeded their lifespan, while other landfills such as the one in Epe remain operational.
Mr. Wahab charged council chairmen to intensify environmental education within their communities and discourage improper waste disposal in open spaces, roads, drainages, and canals.
According to him, the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) continues to monitor and support Private Sector Participants (PSP) to ensure consistent waste collection across the metropolis.
Mr. Wahab called for joint efforts between the state and local councils in tackling flash flooding, adding that while the state government is investing in resilient infrastructure, local councils must complement these efforts.
He advised the chairmen to liaise regularly with resident engineers in their areas to promptly address or escalate flooding issues.
Reiterating that the ban on street trading remains in force, Mr. Wahab urged the chairmen to enforce environmental and sanitation laws effectively, warning that failure to do so undermines governance.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Conference 57 and Executive Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government, Mr. Sesan Olowa, commended the government for the engagement, noting that local councils are already adopting innovative waste management measures, including the use of tricycles for house-to-house waste collection in hard-to-reach areas.
He appealed to the Ministry to support the establishment of mini Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) across LGAs and LCDAs to improve waste disposal efficiency and reduce environmental hazards.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, and Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr. Bolaji Robert, among others.
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