Supports over 140 festivals, events with N8.4b to drive tourism aspirations
Lagos State Government, yesterday, reaffirmed its commitment to a transition from the “collect and dump” system in the waste management process to a sustainable circular economy to ensure a clean and livable state.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who spoke while featuring on a popular TV live programme, “Your View,” enjoined all residents to imbibe a culture of proper waste disposal as a lifestyle for a sustainable environment.

He said that contrary to the viral insinuations that Lagos State is ‘smelling,’ the state is evolving as a megacity with a sustainable waste management process, adding that most cosmopolitan cities around the world have specific areas that emit offensive odours, such as New York, Beijing and London, among others.

Wahab said that the state is not an exception, but that the offensive odour could only be experienced around the landfill sites at Olusosun in Ojota and Solous 3 in Igando.

He reiterated that the state government had last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a completion period of about 16 to 17 months to minimise the waste that ends up on the landfill sites.

The commissioner said that the state had begun an arrangement to convert waste to wealth, where organic wastes become composite fertilisers, and plastic waste is recycled into big plastic dustbins to encourage Lagos residents to build a proper waste disposal culture.

ALSO, the state government, yesterday, said that it had supported over 140 cultural festivals, creative programmes, and tourism events between May 2024 and May 2025 with N8.4 billion.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, disclosed this during the ongoing media briefing to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Benson-Awoyinka said the funds were channelled through the ministry’s Creative Arts Department to sponsor a wide range of activities, spanning music concerts, film and fashion events, art exhibitions, food and cultural festivals, as well as industry empowerment platforms.

The goal, she said, was to fuel economic growth, create jobs, and amplify the state’s cultural influence on the global stage.

“This robust investment reflects our unwavering commitment to cementing Lagos’ position as the heartbeat of creativity and culture in Africa.

“From local community festivals to internationally recognised showcases, every supported initiative contributes meaningfully to heritage preservation, youth development, tourism growth, and global visibility for Lagos,” she added.

She said that some of the high-profile events supported by the ministry include Felabration, Lagos Fashion Week, World Tourism Day, Africa Fashion Week London, Queen Moremi the Musical, Eyo Mini Parade, Naija Native Fest, Afrofood & Drinks Festival, and the World Travel Market, among others.

The commissioner said that the events were not only cultural show cases but also served as platforms for job creation, youth empowerment, and international tourism engagement.