The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its coastline and building a safer, environmentally sustainable, and climate-resilient city for future generations.

This pledge was made by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, during his address at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

Wahab noted that as a coastal state, Lagos faces mounting climate-related risks, including rising sea levels, extreme rainfall, and intense heat waves. However, he emphasised that the government is actively responding by investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable environmental practices.

“Lagos is not sitting back. We are facing our realities. We must build and take ownership of resilient infrastructure,” he stated.

He highlighted significant progress made in the state’s drainage systems, revealing that the government has constructed about 76 kilometres of trapezoidal drainage channels in the last two years to mitigate flash flooding.

Addressing waste management, Wahab said Lagos generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily and is now transitioning from a linear “pick and dump” model to a circular economy where waste is treated as a resource.

“In the past two years, we’ve moved from viewing waste as a nuisance to recognising it as a resource—for energy, for wealth. We are transforming our waste management approach to align with sustainable practices,” he explained.

He added that the state has banned the use of styrofoam food containers and is set to enforce a ban on single-use plastics from July 1, following an 18-month moratorium granted to producers and consumers.