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Key stakeholders are set to converge again to brainstorm on practical solutions aimed at improving waste management across Lagos state.
The forum is courtesy of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN).
It will bring together regulators, operators and environmental experts, to examine policy frameworks, operational bottlenecks and innovative approaches required to build a sustainable waste management system for Africa’s largest megacity.
Available statistics indicate that Lagos generates about 5.46 million tonnes of waste annually, with an estimated 13,000 tonnes produced daily.
However, effective management of both household and industrial waste continues to pose significant challenges for authorities and operators within the value chain.
A substantial portion of this waste is often not transported efficiently to designated dumpsites due to operational and logistical constraints.
Consequently, refuse frequently litters the environment, clogs drainage systems and waterways, and poses environmental and health risks to residents.
The situation has increasingly undermined efforts to maintain a hygienic and sustainable urban environment in the state.
To address these concerns, PEWAN has themed the forthcoming forum “Waste Management: Challenges, Policy Framework and Solution for Sustainable Megacity.”
The event is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, at Ikeja.
Among the key speakers expected at the event are the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Muyiwa Gbadegesin, and the President of the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, Olugbenga Adebola.
Gbadegesin is expected to deliver a presentation titled “Managing the Waste of 22 Million Lagosians – From Linear Disposal to a Circular Economy: Role of PSP Operators and Other Waste Managers.”
The presentation will focus on strategies being implemented by the state government to transform waste management from the traditional disposal model to a circular economy approach that emphasises recycling, recovery and sustainability.
Currently, LAWMA is implementing a 10-year technology-driven waste management programme under the Health and Environment pillar of the THEMES+ development agenda of the Lagos State Government.
The programme is designed to modernise the waste management system by gradually transitioning from conventional dumpsites to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) while also upgrading existing Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) at Olusosun and Solous.
As part of this modernisation drive, the agency has also announced plans to deploy at least 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered compactor trucks this year to improve waste collection efficiency and reduce environmental pollution.In addition, LAWMA has begun introducing smart waste bins equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to improve monitoring and accountability in waste collection operations.
Another major initiative is the “Trash for Cash” programme, which encourages residents to separate recyclable materials and exchange them for financial incentives.
The initiative is expected to significantly increase recycling rates and reduce the volume of waste that ends up in landfills.
Experts at the forum are expected to examine several challenges confronting waste management in Lagos, particularly issues affecting the operations of Private Sector Participation (PSP) waste operators, who play a critical role in waste collection across the metropolis.
Discussions will also explore emerging solutions such as expanded recycling programmes, waste-to-energy initiatives and improved regulatory frameworks aimed at strengthening the entire waste management ecosystem.
In a statement, Chairman of PEWAN, Mrs Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, says the forum became necessary given the environmental pressures facing Lagos as a rapidly expanding megacity.
According to Mrs Iroegbu – Chikezie, the manner in which Lagos manages its waste will ultimately determine not only the health of its residents but also the city’s long-term sustainability and economic resilience.
“For a megacity already under intense pressure from population growth and rapid urbanisation, the way waste is managed will significantly shape the city’s environmental future,” she said.
She explained that PEWAN considered it imperative to bring together critical stakeholders within the waste management ecosystem to collectively identify solutions to a problem that is fast becoming a major environmental concern.
Mrs Iroegbu-Chikezie also noted that the forum would provide an opportunity to educate residents about government initiatives aimed at achieving a cleaner and more sustainable Lagos.
She, however, observed that many residents are yet to fully embrace key regulatory initiatives designed to improve sanitation in the state, noting that indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised locations remains widespread across the metropolis.
“We have also observed that waste managers, particularly PSP operators and street sweepers, are yet to fully adopt the technology-driven waste management system currently being introduced in Lagos,” she added.
PEWAN is a professional body comprising journalists who specialise in property, housing and environmental reporting across both print and electronic media organisations in Nigeria.
Written by Abiola Peters
