By Osa Amadi
To end the challenges of waste management in Lagos, the 7th fastest growing city in the world with an estimated population of 24 million people, Governor Akinwumi  Ambode has approved  the  Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

One of Lagos dumpsites

This was disclosed by Dr. Olorunwa Tijani, Controller of Planning, Research and Statistics, Department of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), at the 2017 Stakeholders’ Forum of Lagos Central Business District, held under the theme, Revitalization of the Central Business District for Economic Growth. Tijani presented a paper, titled, Proffering Solutions to the Challenges of Waste Management in the Lagos Central Business Districts. “At 0.5% waste generation per capita, Lagos generates more than 13, 000 metric tons of waste per day, and has 222 vehicles per KM (the average for Nigerian is 11 vehicles).

These create huge challenges in waste management and the need for sustainable waste management in Lagos, hence the Cleaner Lagos Initiative”, he said.

Tijani, who represented Mr. Segun Adeniji, General Manager of LAWMA, said  Ambode  was tired of seeing unsustainable dumpsites in Lagos and therefore could not wait to see the take-off of  the Cleaner Lagos Initiative to  usher in more sustainable dump sites.

In her presentation, Mrs. Tolulope Adeyo, Director, Ministry of the Environment, who represented  Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, said the Cleaner Lagos Initiative will involve Vision Scape, a consortium of companies, mechanized street sweeping at night, and deployment of 10 trucks that will work at night for a more sustainable waste management around the Central Business District.

She said the Ministry of the Environment is willing to partner  all for a cleaner Lagos.