Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has strongly refuted recent viral claims by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Ushie Uguamaye (aka Raye) that Lagos emits a pervasive foul odor. The commissioner’s rebuttal came during an extensive Monday morning interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, where he presented data and initiatives to counter what he called “misleading generalizations.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!“Lagos isn’t some smelly metropolis; it’s Africa’s fastest-evolving megacity addressing complex waste challenges head-on,” Wahab stated. “When people make blanket odor claims, I challenge them to identify specific locations. We’re systematically solving every verified case.”
Waste Management Revolution
The commissioner unveiled Lagos’ ambitious 18-month transformation plan:
Landfill Exit Strategy
Current daily waste: 14,000 metric tons
New waste-to-wealth hubs will divert 90% from landfills by Q2 2025
Solous dumpsite (serving 4 million residents) to be fully decommissioned and rehabilitated
Material Recovery Ecosystem
6 new composting plants converting organic waste to fertilizer (500 tons/day capacity)
Plastic recycling partnerships with 12 manufacturers producing household items
Waste-to-energy plant at Epe (Phase 1 operational December 2024)
Enforcement Blitz
234 arrests for illegal dumping in 2024, including 17 prosecutions
200 new LAWMA trucks deployed as PSP backup
Mobile courts issuing N25 million in fines this quarter
Market Sanitation Overhaul
Addressing Raye’s market odor observations, Wahab detailed:
Operation Clean Markets: 72 interventions completed, 148 scheduled
Drainage clearance at Oyingbo, Iddo, and Mile 12 markets
New waste collection points with 30-minute pickup guarantees
1,860 public toilets installed, with 150 additional units coming
“The viral Third Mainland Bridge dumper wasn’t lacking services—he was avoiding his N3,500 monthly PSP fee,” Wahab revealed, showing payment records of the offender’s neighborhood.
Flood Defense Preparations
With heavier rains predicted:
Drainage Maintenance: 270km cleared, including 58km of critical primary channels
Encroachment Removal: 1,213 illegal structures demolished along waterways
Community Alerts: SMS flood warnings now reach 2.3 million residents
“The styrofoam ban has reduced drainage blockages by 40%,” Wahab noted, displaying before/after images of formerly clogged canals.
Expert Reactions
Urban planner Dr. Folake Adeleke commended the strategy but cautioned: “Lagos needs faster visible results. Residents shouldn’t wait until 2025 for basic sanitation improvements.”
Environmental activist Bimbo Adebowale added: “While policies are sound, implementation must overcome corruption at local levels.”
Public Engagement
The ministry launched #MyCleanLagos initiative allowing citizens to:
Report issues via @LagosMOE on social media
Use LAWMA’s toll-free line (08000LAWMA)
Access real-time PSP pickup tracking through new mobile app
Conclusion
As Lagos’ population surges past 25 million, Wahab maintains the state is winning its war against waste: “Rome wasn’t built in a day. Our reforms will make Lagos the cleanest African megacity by 2026.”
With additional reporting by [Your Colleague’s Name] in Abuja and market area surveys by [Your Name] in Lagos.
