The Lagos State Government on Tuesday urged all residents to key into the State’s waste to wealth initiative as part of efforts to promote a circular economy. The initiative focuses on reducing the amount of waste that ends up at landfills, reusing materials, and recycling waste for a sustainable environment and cleaner Lagos.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known when he appeared on Arise Television, where he emphasized the government’s commitment to building a waste management culture across the state. He noted that the initiative aims to make every Lagos resident part of the movement toward better environmental sanitation and responsible waste disposal.
According to Wahab, officials of the state government are already moving across Lagos every Thursday for the “Trash for Cash” initiative, a project that allows residents to exchange their waste for money. He explained that, “We are already going across the State every Thursday either to give back cash to residents for waste or to pick up waste, and once the government scales it up, there would be a permanent point where residents would come to get a reasonable amount in exchange for their trash.”
Wahab said the government is determined to establish a sustainable waste management system and to build a circular economy where waste becomes a resource. He pointed out that once residents begin to receive cash for their trash, illegal waste disposal practices such as dumping refuse on roads, medians, canals, and open spaces will drastically reduce.
He explained that Lagos is moving away from the traditional linear waste system, commonly referred to as “pick and drop,” which is not environmentally friendly. The state is now promoting a model where waste is seen as a resource that can be converted into energy and other valuable materials.
The Commissioner said that in the past two years, the government has brought a new narrative to the forefront, encouraging Lagosians, Nigerians, and global stakeholders to partner with the state in transforming waste into useful products. According to him, “We are encouraging everyone to come to Lagos and collaborate with the government to convert waste into compost fertiliser or to recycle plastics.”
Wahab also urged investors and companies to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in the circular economy. “You can also come to Lagos and partner with the government to use waste to generate power (Waste to Energy) or use the state’s compostable waste to power your machines just like what LAFARGE is doing presently, and you can use the state’s electronic waste by recycling it to create something new,” he said.
He revealed that the Lagos State Government had signed a concession agreement with a company called Zoom Lion to convert 4,000 tons of daily waste into wealth. According to him, the agreement will ensure that 55 per cent of waste is turned into compost fertiliser and recyclables, while less than five per cent of the total waste generated will end up in landfills.
Wahab added that some landfills, including Olososun in Ikeja and Soluos 3 in Igando, are being decommissioned because they have exceeded their lifespan and the volume of waste that will reach the landfills is now significantly lower.
He emphasized that it is time for citizens to see waste beyond trash, describing it as an inexhaustible resource. He stated that waste separation should start from every household, explaining that when Lagosians begin to separate their waste at home, it will be easier for the government to scale up its waste management programs.
The Commissioner also noted that the state government had banned cart pushers and replaced their activities with the waste to wealth initiative to ensure a cleaner and safer Lagos. He said, “Everyone must embrace the bigger picture of Lagos, which is to make it a clean, safe, flood-free, and sustainable state.”
Speaking further, Wahab highlighted the positive impact of the ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam products. He said data from flood monitoring revealed a drastic reduction in drainage clogging and flash flooding incidents caused by single-use plastics and Styrofoam. He added that this progress contributed to the government’s ability to host the E1 Speed Boat Race recently, showing improved waterway management.
The Commissioner also recalled that some buildings were recently demolished for blocking the Ikota River in Lekki and at Oworoshoki for urban regeneration. He noted that shops demolished at the Trade Fair complex were removed due to violations of state laws, particularly the failure to obtain building approval before commencing construction.
Addressing the recent incident involving a woman apprehended on Admiralty Way for cooking in a public space, Wahab maintained that the law applies equally to everyone. He said, “The law is no respecter of any person, and if indeed she was cooking to feed the underprivileged, she should operate within the confines of the law.”
He concluded by appealing to residents to support the government’s environmental agenda. According to him, “I would like to make a plea to Lagosians: The government is building a megacity that is environmentally-friendly, sustainable, and more resilient because it is a coastal state. As such, residents should ensure they manage their waste differently; do not dump waste illegally, do not build on canals or drainage alignments, and avoid building on wetlands and flood plain areas.”