The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the state’s coastline and building climate-resilient infrastructure to ensure a safer, more sustainable environment for future generations.
The State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, made this known while representing Lagos at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, over the weekend.
Wahab stated that Lagos, as a coastal city, is exposed to significant climate-related threats, including rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and excessive heat.
He stressed, however, that the state is not passive in the face of these challenges.
“Lagos, as a coastal state, faces severe climate risks from rising sea levels, extreme rainfall and excessive heat. But we are not sitting back. We are building resilient infrastructure,” he said.
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He emphasised that confronting the reality of climate change requires deliberate investment in long-term infrastructure solutions, along with responsible ownership and maintenance by the public.
The commissioner noted that in the past two years, the state government has constructed about 76 kilometres of trapezoidal drainage systems across Lagos, as part of its year-round drainage maintenance efforts to mitigate flash flooding.
Wahab also highlighted the state’s ongoing transition from a traditional waste disposal approach to a circular economy model, describing waste as a valuable resource for energy generation and material recovery.
“With over 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily, Lagos is moving from a ‘pick and dump’ system to a circular economy where waste becomes a resource for wealth and energy,” he said.
He added that the government has taken decisive steps in plastic waste management, including the ban on styrofoam food containers and the impending enforcement of a ban on single-use plastics from 1 July, following an 18-month moratorium granted to manufacturers and consumers.
Wahab stated that Lagos remains fully committed to climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, and developing infrastructure that meets the needs of its growing population while protecting natural ecosystems.
