"Yes, Lagos Can Handle 13,000 Tonnes Of Daily Wastes - Tokunbo Wahab

In this interview with UTHMAN SALAMI, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, addresses pressing environmental challenges, including the planned $48m waterworks rehabilitation project, waste management and air pollution in the state

Some 2025 reports raised concerns about the quality of water supply in parts of Lagos Island, including Itafaji, Onola, and Adeniji Adele, noting that though the water may appear clean, it could contain hidden contaminants. What is your reaction to that?

In our waterworks, namely Iju, Shasi, and Adiyan, it bears stating that the capacity may not be enough to serve the entire state because Lagos has grown exponentially in the past few years. One of the areas we are servicing is Lagos Island, and I know we have addressed the challenge you raised. However, it is not actually about the quality of the water; it is about the way the water is supplied to those localities. What we have done differently is install new pipes. Previously, people had to take their buckets or other containers to collect water, sometimes even from drainage channels, because the pipes that existed were old. Many of them had been destroyed, cut, or mutilated. So, we had to do a lot of new piping. The water we supply, I can assure Lagosians, is 100 per cent clean and fully treated before it is discharged from our waterworks for public supply. Therefore, those concerns, with due respect, are no longer valid.

Talking about the piping and infrastructure, we have not been seeing the ministry laying pipes across the state. Why is that?

It is not the ministry (that does this) directly; it is the Lagos State Water Corporation, which is one of the major agencies under the ministry. What they have done differently is that they cannot carry out pipe replacements statewide all at once. Instead, the first thing they did was deploy a robot to inspect the pipes to identify leakages and determine which pipes needed replacement. In other words, they conducted an audit of the materials and infrastructure. After that process, they began determining what could realistically be addressed within the budget cycle. Water infrastructure is massive. The first waterworks that ran from Iju to Lagos Island was built over 100 years ago, even before the amalgamation of Nigeria. The Iju Waterworks itself dates back to 1895 or 1896, and the pipes ran from there to Lagos Island. Over the years, those pipes became very old and experienced major leakages. What has been done over time is to repair, replace, and fix sections. What the agency has now decided to do differently is to handle repairs in clusters. For example, they replaced pipes between the Alexander Waterworks in Ikoyi, which supplies the whole of Ikoyi, and Parkview Estate. I personally visited the site impromptu to see the work being done recently. That is how the clusters operate. Once one cluster is completed, they move to the next, based on the audit results.

 

There is hardly any residence in Lagos without a borehole or well. What is the government doing to reduce dependence on private boreholes and wells?

Scientifically, we cannot continue to sustain heavy reliance on boreholes because of the pressure it puts on the aquifer. That is why the government is investing heavily in water infrastructure. Some months ago, the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and members of the executive team visited the Adiyan Waterworks, which is currently undergoing massive investment. This was the second time the governor has visited during this administration, which shows how serious the government is about the project. There are two waterworks there. The main one, when fully operational, is expected to produce 70 million gallons of water per day. The first step in the project involves sourcing raw water from the Ogun River, which is about 8.3 kilometres away from the waterworks. The government had to secure the right of way from the Ogun State Government before laying massive pipes from the river to the waterworks. That stage has already been completed. The next phase involves mechanical and electrical installations, which are currently ongoing. This stage requires significant financial investment from the government. After that, the next major stage is reticulation, which is the distribution network that will deliver water to residents. We also need to address the issue of water policy. In many societies, people still see water and waste management as purely social services that should be free. However, globally, people pay for water services. We must eventually find a way to meter usage and charge minimal fees, no matter how small, so the system can be sustainable. Investors are already showing interest in participating in this large water infrastructure project, and the Lagos Water Corporation is handling those engagements. Additionally, the state has signed what is known as a WASH policy — Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene policy — which signals to the global community that Lagos is ready for investment in the water sector. Previously, USAID approved about $48 million to refurbish some mini and micro waterworks in the state. However, changes in the U.S. government slowed down that process. Meanwhile, projects like the Akilo Waterworks in Agege, supported by WaterAid, are already operational. Residents there can access water using token cards, paying only for the quantity they consume. This is the model Lagos intends to expand. Development does not happen overnight; it requires careful planning and execution.

Realistically, when should Lagos residents expect improved water supply across the state?

The projection from the governor and the government is that before the end of the administration, the Adiyan Phase II Waterworks should be fully operational. Once Adiyan II produces 70 million gallons daily, combined with Shasi, Adiyan I, and 48 mini and micro waterworks, Lagos will significantly increase its daily water production capacity. However, even that may still not completely meet demand. But it will greatly reduce reliance on boreholes, which are affecting the aquifer. The government is pushing to achieve this by next year, and you are welcome to visit the Adiyan II project site to see the progress being made.

Lagos reportedly generates about 13,000 tonnes of waste daily. Do you believe the current waste management system can handle this volume?

I believe 100 per cent that it can. The real problem is not the Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste collection structure; the challenge lies in the behaviour and responsibility of residents. Waste management is largely about culture. For example, where I live, waste collection happens every Wednesday. So we prepare our waste and place it outside the gate for pickup the night before. The process has three stages: collection from households, transportation to landfills, and final disposal. However, Lagos is transitioning away from a system where waste is simply dumped in landfills to one where waste becomes a resource. For instance, Lagos has an agreement with ZoomLion, which will process about 4,000 tonnes of waste daily. Instead of going to landfills, the waste will be taken to transfer loading stations and material recovery plants, where it will be converted into fertiliser and recyclable plastics. Another company from the Netherlands has also signed an agreement to process 2,500 tonnes daily for energy generation. Combined, these initiatives will remove about 6,000 tonnes of waste daily from landfills. Additionally, Lafarge takes combustible waste to power its cement factories. When all these systems operate fully, the volume of waste reaching landfills will reduce significantly, minimising the environmental impact. To answer your question conclusively, the system will work, but we need to rejig it. Rejig it in a way that will make those businessmen have a commensurate income from their businesses. There must also be a balance where LAWMA is doing much more to support them. Thirdly, regarding the open flank of the new waste landfills that we are opening up around Epe, Okeosho, and then EriKete at Badagry, we must find a way to put the proper infrastructure in place to make it attractive for the PSP operators to be able to access them. In the past few weeks, if you want to be fair to this government, things have improved. Because we have also started telling them that if they cannot do the work, they will be taken off. They will be given a query, and then they will be taken off. LAWMA has also had to double up its clearing capacity. That’s why you’ve seen a lot of improvement. But we are not even asking some questions. Why are people taking waste from their homes and dropping it on the median? Is it fair to the state? We wake up at times and see them come with very beautiful, fanciful vehicles. We have arrested them several times. I am a man who believes there must be consequences for bad behaviour, and that’s why I take them to court. We have prosecuted over 4,000 to 5,000 people in the past 12 months—prosecuted and taken them to court.

Residents say they obey the law by packing their waste and bringing it to their gates, but PSP operators sometimes do not come. What is the government doing about this?

Now, that’s why I said call out LAWMA. Call out the PSP operators. They have their numbers. I can show you my phone. I can show you that at times I receive over 50 complaints. But that was at the peak. Now, maybe about three or four from different parts of the state.

My responsibility is that I will never change my telephone number. It’s the number I’ve used for pver 20 years, and I’ll keep it. I will respond to you. Sorry about this, MD LAWMA; kindly cut this and treat it as a request. That’s what governance and leadership are about. We cannot get there overnight. If it could happen in Birmingham last year, another county in London is going through the same thing now. It’s a global challenge. How do you explain people waking up, leaving their houses, and going to urinate or defecate on the median? We have to enforce the law consistently and take them to court. That’s why the Lagos end of the median is clean. Are we going to get there overnight? I’ll tell you no. Are we going to get there eventually? I’ll tell you 100 per cent yes. It’s a journey and a process. Kigali, the US, and the UK did not get there overnight. They got there because they chose to enforce their laws. Are we going to have difficult moments? Yes. But we have to keep pushing for the best.

The state government has talked for years about upgrading and rehabilitating landfills. What is the current status of the planned rehabilitation of major landfills such as Olusosun and Solous?

As I mentioned, we are opening up EriKete at Badagry and Okeosho at the moment. The objective is to decommission Olusosun and Solous. But until the new sites are fully functional, you cannot decommission the old ones. It is an 18-month project. We will decommission them fully and cap them. That is part of the agreement we have with ZoomLion.

When will the project be completed?

It is 18 months from the day they start work.

Have they started work?

The House (of Assembly) just passed the agreement last week, or they will pass it next week—I’m not entirely sure.

Residents in places like Ikorodu and Lekki complain about flooding. What is the government doing about it?

When it comes to flooding, let me give you the facts. I resumed two years ago, and with data we have progressively reduced the incidence of flash flooding. If you are familiar with Lekki and its history, much of Lekki is reclaimed swamp land. That means it is surrounded by water bodies. Lagos is a coastal state, and in a coastal state you will experience flash flooding. Some parts of Lagos are even below sea level. What we have done differently is provide infrastructure that enables water to discharge properly. Lagos Island is an example—areas like Ojo Giwa, Oroyinyin, and Aroloya. When we resumed, we visited those places wearing rain boots. Two weeks ago, we went again, and we have almost completed the drainage work. But because those areas are below sea level, we also built a pumping station at Ilubirin that can pump three million gallons per hour to discharge water effectively. In places like Kosefe, Ajegunle, and Ogombo, many people have reclaimed land near the lagoon. But we are also ensuring that our Emergency Flood Abatement Gang works around the clock to declog and desilt drainage systems across the state. Because Lagos is bounded by about 186 kilometres of the Atlantic Ocean, when it rains heavily, there will sometimes be a tidal lock. That means rainwater cannot discharge immediately, which causes temporary flooding. Developed countries with the best infrastructure still experience flash flooding. Climate change is also real. That’s why we see excessive heat and rainfall. It has been raining almost all year—December, January, and February. Seasons have changed. But as a state, we keep doing what we must do.

What are the long-term plans to stop people from dumping waste in drainage channels after they have been cleared?

It comes back to what we said earlier: we must take ownership of our environment and public infrastructure. How do you wake up and throw debris into a drainage channel? But we will not make excuses. That’s why we have the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang. Their job is to keep clearing drainage channels. If EFAG can succeed 50 per cent, we will solve half of Lagos’ flooding problems. I can confidently say that flooding incidents have reduced drastically, and we are proud to say that to Lagos residents.

There is another canal near the stadium that residents complain about. What is being done about it?

Yes. Some time ago, it was awarded as an ecological project by the Federal Government. What we are doing is approaching it from both the downstream and upstream sections. The vegetation you see over the canal will be cleared. It has been noted.

Is the state government doing anything to monitor and control air pollution in Lagos?

Yes. We have air-quality monitoring machines installed across the state by LASEPA and its partners. These machines provide daily readings, and LASEPA monitors them 24 hours a day. We also have noise-pollution monitoring machines installed in several areas. Last year, there was a New York Times report about lead pollution around Lagos. When I resumed three years ago, we received a similar report. We told the companies involved that they could not operate in Lagos if they could not meet global environmental standards. They could not comply, so we pushed them out of Lagos, and they moved to Ogun State. We installed air-quality monitoring equipment around the area and continue to monitor it.

Have there been violations, and what actions are taken when pollution levels rise?

If the air-quality machines detect abnormal readings, we alert the community and ask them to take remedial actions immediately. For example, in the smoked fish market in Bariga, the readings were always in the red because of the smoking process. We engaged the traders through advocacy and helped them change their equipment. Today, the situation has improved significantly. That is what it is about—continuous advocacy and engagement. As for noise pollution, I am a Christian from a Muslim background. No religion teaches you to disturb others. You should not disturb people with your religion. We just have to keep promoting a culture of mutual respect.

Culled from The Punch 

Categories: Governance Today, The Environments