The Lagos Government and the British High Commission in Nigeria have concluded plans to partner on energy from solid waste as well as recycling for an improved economy in the state.
The Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the state is ready and open for business opportunities in the Environment Sector.
Wahab said this in his address during a business visit to the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources by delegates from the British High Commission.
He added that public service is mainly about the people and what can be done to impact the lives of the people positively.
Wahab expressed joy at the amendments to the Electricity Bill, which gives room for Lagos State the concurrent power to generate electricity and also distribute it to the residents.
According to him, a few years back, exclusive empowerment of the Federal Government to solely determine the generation, distribution and transmission of electricity had been an obstacle to many states’ initiatives.
The Commissioner for Environment also touched on the issue of climate financing, saying that Lagos is open to investment opportunities and partnerships.
He said that it is time for stakeholders to have pure work plans and be very realistic and deliberate about actions to combat the environmental scourge.
“We understand there are yardsticks for investment, but the criteria used in European countries cannot be used in Third World developing countries because the realities are quite different,” he said.
“Countries that depend on fossil fuels cannot be abruptly stopped without presenting and making available options as 80 percent of the average Nigerian income comes from Fossil fuel.
“Solid waste management is a major issue for the State, as Lagos generates 13,000 – 15,000 tonnes of waste daily and the PSP waste collection system needs support in finding creative ways to manage dumpsites.”
The Commissioner commended the will of the present administration to implement policies regarding Environmental issues particularly solid waste management, as displayed in the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on environmental issues with private investors on ways to generate energy from dumpsites.
Wahab emphasised that the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration would continue to step up its advocacy and sensitisation against unwholesome waste disposal by the people.
“The change of heart from the people is very important as the continued dumping of refuse in the canals and drains will come back to haunt us all,” he said.
“The people should be more circumspect with the way they deal with nature because whatever they give to nature is what they will get back either positive or negative.”
