Lagos Govt, Stakeholders Seek Drastic Measures To Combat Plastic Pollution

The Lagos State government and stakeholders have expressed concern that improperly disposed plastic waste frequently finds its way into drains, canals, and the lagoon, thereby contributing to flooding and environmental pollution. This came current realities that the state generates approximately 13,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastics accounting for about 15 per cent.

In a bid to tackle the problem urgently, the state government and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) have intensified calls for climate action, a commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience, and are asking residents to take urgent, collective action against plastic pollution and the degradation of natural ecosystems.

The permanent secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, described the challenge as one with direct implications for public health, homes, businesses and transportation, stressing that Lagos, as a coastal state

with low-lying and densely populated communities, could not afford to delay action on climate change.

According to him, the state’s wetlands, mangroves and lagoon fronts serve as natural defences against flooding and coastal erosion, and he warns that indiscriminate reclamation and development in these environmentally sensitive areas expose communities to greater risks.

Gaji, during the 20th edition of the annual Walk for Nature, organised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), held at Makanjuola Hall, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, outlined the government’s interventions in three critical areas: plastic pollution control, the protection of wetlands and the expansion of drainage and green infrastructure.

On plastic pollution, he recalled the state’s ban on Styrofoam and other specified single-use plastics, noting that enforcement commenced on July 1, 2025, adding that the government was also working with innovators to promote sustainable alternatives while strengthening environmental education in schools and communities.

Harping on wetland protection, he stated that the government suspended reclamation activities on wetlands, floodplains, and lagoon fronts in September 2025 without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment approvals and drainage clearances.

He emphasised that all development activities must comply with environmental regulations and drainage requirements, noting that protecting wetlands and mangroves was essential to building a safer, more climate-resilient Lagos.

He further reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to investing in drainage infrastructure, restoring mangroves, planting trees and developing parks to strengthen the state’s natural defences against flooding and rising temperatures.

Gaji stressed that government efforts would achieve greater impact with the active participation of residents, urging them to dispose of waste responsibly, keep drains and drainage channels clear, reduce their reliance on single-use plastics and avoid building on wetlands and drainage corridors.

He encouraged them to take the lead in promoting environmental responsibility within their hostels and surrounding communities through waste separation, tree planting and the adoption of sustainable practices.

He also urged young people to hold themselves, their communities, and the government accountable for protecting the environment, noting that their generation would bear the long-term consequences of decisions made today.

He stressed the need to sustain the spirit of the exercise by making environmentally responsible choices in their daily lives, stressing that the success of the initiative would ultimately be measured by actions taken to protect the environment long after the walk has ended.

The Director of Ecology and Wetlands, Mrs Tolu Adeyo, stressed that climate change was no longer a distant concern, as its impacts were increasingly evident in rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, flooding and biodiversity loss.

She emphasised the importance of protecting and restoring natural ecosystems, particularly wetlands, mangroves, waterways, forests and green spaces, which serve as natural buffers against flooding, support biodiversity, store carbon and sustain community livelihoods.

Adeyo called on residents, businesses, communities and institutions to translate environmental awareness into practical action, stressing that climate resilience could not be achieved by Government alone.

For the Chairman of the NEC of the NCF, Justice R I B Adebiyi, the climate crisis is a test of man’s responsibility, his creativity, courage, and our common humanity.

“Future generations may never know our names, but they will live with the consequences of the decisions we make today. They will either inherit a world in which we ignored the warning signs, or a world in which we dared to respond.

“Let them inherit a world of hope rather than regret, a world of opportunity rather than destruction, “she said.