By Bababunmi Agbebi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
At the beginning of 2025, the Lagos State Government intensified its environmental enforcement efforts with the announcement of plans to remove all illegal structures erected beneath Apongbon Bridge and along the drainage setbacks of the Savage, Elegbata, and Bombata channels on Lagos Island. The initiative, led by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, was aimed at restoring critical drainage corridors and mitigating recurrent flooding risks in the area.
This enforcement drive extended to the Ikota axis of Lekki, where approximately thirty-eight residential units were marked for removal due to encroachment on the Ikota River’s right of way. During an inspection exercise, the Commissioner reiterated the government’s determination to reclaim drainage paths and ensure the unimpeded flow of water as a key flood-prevention strategy.
In Apapa, the state government strengthened inter-agency collaboration by partnering with the Nigerian Navy under the Western Naval Command to carry out a large-scale environmental clean-up. The Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment, Olakunle Rotimi Akodu, described the exercise as part of a broader, long-term strategy to maintain a clean, safe, and healthy environment for residents and businesses within the port corridor.
Midway into the year, Lagos formally commenced enforcement of its ban on select single-use plastics, effective July 1, following an eighteen-month transition period and extensive stakeholder engagement. This policy marked a significant step toward reducing plastic pollution and repositioning the state as a leader in environmental regulation.
Further reinforcing its waste management reforms, the state government signed a Waste Management and Processing Concession Agreement with a technical partner. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu noted that the partnership would facilitate the conversion of waste into economic value, advance recycling efforts, and support the transition to a circular economy.
Innovations in waste collection were also introduced with the deployment of smart waste bins in residential and commercial areas. The initiative is expected to improve operational efficiency and enable the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to better monitor and regulate private sector participants across the waste value chain.
During inspections of the Soluos II and Olusosun landfill sites, Commissioner Wahab emphasized that Lagos’ long-term sustainability depends on embracing environmentally responsible waste systems that prioritize recycling, resource recovery, and reduced ecological impact.
Beyond waste and sanitation, Lagos hosted its 11th International Climate Change Summit, during which Governor Sanwo-Olu unveiled the Lagos State Climate Investment Opportunities Diagnostic. The framework is designed to attract climate-focused investments in clean energy, sustainable transportation, and resilient infrastructure, positioning Lagos as a competitive destination for green finance.
Collectively, these interventions highlight a year of deliberate action and policy direction in environmental governance. However, in 2026, expectations are significantly higher. Residents and stakeholders will be looking to the state government to deepen enforcement consistency, scale up infrastructure investments, ensure transparency in waste management partnerships, and deliver measurable reductions in flooding and environmental degradation. The successes of 2025 now set a benchmark, making 2026 a defining year for translating policy commitments into lasting, citywide impact.
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