The Lagos State Government has expressed readiness to partner with investors in converting municipal solid waste into energy, wealth, and liquid waste solutions.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Mr. Kunle Adeshina.
Wahab said the present administration in Lagos State had set up a climate adaptation and resilience plan encapsulating its vision and policies.
He added that the state had carried out two pre-feasibility studies on waste-to-energy and wastewater projects to demonstrate its commitment.
With a population of over 20 million generating 13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, Wahab noted, the state was adopting a sustainable, climate-friendly approach.
“We now see waste as a resource for wealth and a resource for energy because the quantum of waste that ends up in our landfill sites will become very minimal.
As a state, we have set up policies and laws that enable us, as a sub-national, to reach out to neighbouring countries where they have expertise,” he said.
He explained that the state government signed a contractual agreement 18 months ago with a Ghana-based company.
According to him, the agreement would remove 4,000 metric tonnes of municipal waste daily from the 13,000 generated in Lagos.
He said the agreement would also lead to the conversion of waste into wealth, compost fertilisers, and recyclable plastics, as well as the establishment of a transfer station in the most challenging areas.
“If that contractual obligation is successfully carried out, we also plan to decommission one of our biggest landfills at Olusosun and Solous.
All these are symbols of progress through collaboration,” Wahab said.
The commissioner added that Lagos, as a coastal city, was exposed to the effects of climate change, including sea-level rise, heavy rainfall, and excessive heat.
“All these bring about flash flooding when there is tidal lock due to the inability of water to discharge into its natural sources,” he said.
He further noted that aerial geographic information showed that the original landmass of Lagos, which was 3,577 square kilometres, had increased to 4,050 square kilometres.
Wahab attributed this expansion to massive reclamation of wetlands and lagoon water bodies for real estate construction.
He stressed that Lagos State had been exercising its legal powers to check excesses arising from such human activities.
The commissioner, over the weekend, featured as a panelist at the Harvard University Climate Action Week.
The event was themed: “Rising Seas, Resilient Communities: Climate Adaptation Strategies in West Africa.”
