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LAGOS, Nigeria - The Lagos State Government has reiterated its dedication to safeguarding the state’s coastline and developing sustainable infrastructure to address the impacts of climate change.
This was announced by Kunle Adesina, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, in a statement on Monday.
During the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasized this commitment.
He highlighted that Lagos, being a coastal state, is confronted with various climate challenges, including rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and excessive heat.
Wahab pointed out, “Lagos, as a coastal state, faces significant climate risks from rising sea levels, heavy rainfall, and intense heat. But we are not remaining passive. We are constructing resilient infrastructure.
As a state, we must confront our realities, which include the necessity of building resilient infrastructure and taking ownership of these structures, which is crucial.”
He mentioned that the state has been clearing primary and secondary drainage channels continuously to minimize flooding risks, with 76 km of trapezoidal drainage systems built over the past two years.
Additionally, he discussed the reforms in the state’s waste management, stating that Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily and is moving from a linear disposal approach to a circular economy.
“In the past two years, we have decided to view waste as a resource, transitioning from a pick-and-dump method to a more sustainable, climate-friendly system where waste is now regarded as a resource for wealth and energy, and not merely as waste.”
