Lagos Waste Reporter

...As the Environment Commissioner Conducts a Tour of Major Dumpsites The Lagos State Government publicly announced over the weekend its commitment to adopting strategic initiatives aimed at improving waste disposal and waste management practices. Following a tour of the primary dumpsites at Olusosun and Soluos 3, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, stated to the media that the government remains steadfast in its resolve to provide Lagosians with a sustainable and operational environment. Wahab indicated that within the upcoming 18 months, the state plans to decommission the Olusosun and Soluos 3 landfills. These sites will be transformed into contemporary Transfer Loading Stations, where waste will be sorted, compacted, and redirected for recycling and resource recovery. He noted that the Governor and the State Executive Council have regularly discussed waste-related issues, with particular attention given to the conditions at Olusosun ...

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has reinforced its enforcement operations across the state, targeting indiscriminate dumping, black spots, and persistent environmental violations that threaten public health and urban resilience. Speaking on the Authority’s latest actions, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, acknowledged the waste management challenges experienced in some areas in the state, noting that the Authority remained firmly committed to ending all forms of reckless disposal habits. He said, “The state’s coastal geography made enforcement very important, to prevent environmental hazards. A bag of refuse tossed into a drain anywhere in the metropolis does not disappear. It blocks culverts, worsens flooding, exposes households to contaminated water, and sends plastics and debris into our canals and lagoon systems. Illegal dumping has consequences far beyond the act itself.” He revealed that LAWMA has moved from episodic c...

PRESS RELEASE Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State reaffirmed the State's unwavering commitment to promoting sustainable growth through innovation and investment in resilience as it prepares to host the 2025 International Climate Change Summit. Scheduled to take place on November 6th and 7th at the Lagos Continental Hotel, the 2025 Summit, themed “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation,” is expected to attract global leaders, investors, climate scientists, and policymakers. In a statement made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, the Governor highlighted that Lagos continues to exemplify leadership in subnational climate action while developing effective mechanisms for city-level climate finance. The Governor further emphasized that the State has been actively engaged in the development of blue bonds and nature-based coastal protection projects, which are instrumental in shaping ...

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) recently completed its 2025 Summer School Programme at its headquarters in Ijora-Olopa, bringing together pupils from various schools in Lagos to engage in sustainability-focused activities. The three-week program, themed "Saving the planet one step at a time," included classroom lessons, practical demonstrations, and field trips to enhance understanding of waste management and environmental sustainability. Activities included recycling workshops, where students created items like center tables from tires and plant vases from PET bottle covers. Participants visited Mouka Limited to learn about waste management in manufacturing, and received a lecture on marine life from the Lekan Bakare Foundation, highlighting the dangers of ocean littering.  At the closing ceremony, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, emphasized the importance of equipping children to become environmental custodians. Aye...

Air pollution can cause DNA mutations that have been linked to lung cancer, according to new research showing strong connections between polluted air and the same genetic changes often seen in smokers.  Scientists analyzed the cancer genomes of 871 non-smokers with lung cancer from four continents and found a clear pattern. People living in areas with high levels of air pollution had more mutations in key genes tied to lung cancer, namely TP53 and EGFR, and were nearly four times more likely to show the SBS4 mutation, a known result of exposure to tobacco smoke. These mutations were far less common in non-smokers from cleaner regions. The study also uncovered a new mutational signature, SBS40a, present in 28% of non-smokers but absent in smokers, with no clear environmental cause identified. The research compared these non-smoker genomes with 345 smoker genomes to show both shared and unique patterns.  Secondhand smoke was linked to only a small increase in these g...

Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, represented by Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, spoke at the grand finale of the Lagos Has Talent competition Climate Edition, highlighting the event's role in showcasing youth-led climate advocacy. The initiative began in 2023 and gained traction with the involvement of social media influencer Maryam Apaokagi (Taooma) to amplify youth voices in climate issues. The government is focused on practical solutions for addressing climate change through the Lagos Climate Action Plan and the Lagos State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP). The competition's top finalists were praised as ambassadors for creativity and climate awareness, emphasizing the importance of youth voices in climate action. Awards were presented, with the 1st place winner receiving N5Million, and other prizes distributed to the runners-up. The initiative is supported by C40 Cities and UK International Development, with collaboration from the Ministry of the Envir...