The Lagos State Government has secured the support of traditional rulers and community leaders in Owu-Ikosi and Agbowa-Ikosi for the immediate commencement of work on a proposed Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Agbowa, Epe Division.

The development followed a meeting between government officials and stakeholders from the two communities, where outstanding concerns about the project were addressed.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the meeting was necessary to ensure that the communities understood, accepted and took ownership of the project before construction begins.

Wahab explained that the facility should not be viewed simply as a waste management project, but as a major development initiative that would create opportunities for improved waste recovery, recycling and resource utilisation.

“It is a major development we are bringing to that site, and we have been very deliberate about how we spread development across the state,” he said.

The commissioner said the government was committed to resolving all outstanding issues with the communities, stressing that the project would not be imposed on residents.

He assured the stakeholders that neither of the two communities would be favoured at the expense of the other, adding that the government’s objective was to promote development while respecting the interests of all parties.

Wahab also commended the traditional rulers and community leaders for their willingness to look beyond their immediate concerns and support a project that could contribute to the development of the area.

He said the agreements reached at the meeting would be formally documented and communicated to all stakeholders to provide a clear framework for the next stage of the project.

The commissioner added that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lands Bureau, consultants and other relevant agencies would continue to work together to ensure the success of the project.

Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Kamar Olowoshago, expressed appreciation to the traditional rulers, chiefs and community leaders for their constructive engagement, saying the agreement had paved the way for work to commence at the Agbowa site.

He noted that work had already started on a similar facility at Erekiti in Badagry.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji, said the proposed MRF would strengthen waste recovery and recycling while reducing the volume of waste ultimately sent to landfills.

He added that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remained committed to sustainable environmental solutions and to ensuring that host communities became active partners in projects that affect them.

In their response, the Olowu of Owu-Ikosi, Oba Nelson Ogunlari, and the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, Oba Owolabi Momson, expressed support for the project, saying their communities were not opposed to development.

They, however, urged the state government to ensure that all relevant stakeholders were properly consulted and that every component contained in the project plan was implemented.