The Lagos State Government has emphasized the need for citizens to change their attitude towards waste management and disposal to achieve a sustainable environment.
Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stressed that proper waste disposal culture is an intentional behavior that must be adhered to by all.
Lagos generates between 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes of waste daily, but the state has implemented creative solutions to reduce waste at landfill sites. These initiatives include:
– Waste-to-Wealth: Converting 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of waste daily into valuable resources.
– Energy Generation: Converting 2,500 tonnes of waste into energy.
– Fuel Production: Converting 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes of waste into fuel for LAMATA buses and LAFARGE company’s power generation.
The state is also decommissioning dumpsites at Olusosun and Solous III, and promoting waste segregation to minimize waste at landfill sites. Additionally, the government is collaborating with local governments to ensure cleanliness in market spaces and tertiary drains.
To address open defecation, the state has:
– Public Toilets: Provided 1,710 public toilets, with 150 more under construction.
– Sanitation Enforcement: Deployed sanitation enforcement officers to arrest offenders.
The government encourages citizens to report environmental infractions and assures that it will not tolerate witch-hunting. The state is also committed to providing potable water to every area, with ongoing projects to supply 70 million gallons of drinkable water daily.