Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos commissioner for environment and water resources, says the state is reinforcing its coastal defences and environmental infrastructure to curb the impact of climate change.
Speaking on Monday at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, Wahab said Lagos, as a coastal state, faces severe threats from rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and excessive heat.
“We are building resilient infrastructure. We must face our realities — and those realities demand that we construct and take ownership of sustainable infrastructure,” Wahab said.
The commissioner said the Lagos state government had invested heavily in drainage infrastructure to reduce the risk of flash floods, with about 76 kilometres of trapezoidal drains constructed across the state in the last two years.
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He noted that the state is shifting from a linear waste disposal system to a circular economy model that treats waste as a resource for energy and recovery.
The commissioner added that the state government is deliberately building a climate-conscious and environmentally resilient city for future generations.
“With over 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily, we’ve redefined our approach to plastic waste,” he said.
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“We have banned styrofoam food containers, and from July 1, we will begin enforcing the ban on single-use plastics after an 18-month moratorium.
“In the last two years, we’ve chosen to categorise waste as a resource. We’ve moved from a ‘pick and dump’ culture to a system where waste is repurposed for energy and wealth creation.”
