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no longer valid.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
