The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab revealed that within the next two weeks, the Lagos State Government plans to start enforcing the ban on single-use plastics, or SUPs.
This occurs as the massive pumping station that is being built in Ilubirin to permanently solve the flooding problem on Lagos Island is scheduled to begin operations the following week.
This came to light during an inspection visit of flood-prone regions and all ongoing and new projects on Lagos Island and its environs, which culminated at Ilubirin, Waterfront, on Sunday. As part of the State Government’s efforts to establish policy guidelines for plastic utility to further ensure a sustainable management of plastic waste and a safe and healthy environment, Wahab held a stakeholders’ workshop and awareness last December regarding the implementation of the ban on the use of Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging. He stated that Saudi enforcement would start in January 2025.
In response to the growing amount of plastic trash and its detrimental effects on the environment in recent years, the state government outlawed the use of Styrofoam in all government buildings and throughout the city in January 2024. Following the inspection, he told reporters at the Ilubirin Pump Station,
He had this to say: “In fairness to government, we saw the level of degradation there was infrastructure that was built by Julius Berger contracted by government, properly done with road network, functional drainage and walkway. However, bad human behaviour clogged up the system.
“This tour became necessary as the Governor has re-awarded the regeneration of the total infrastructure of Lagos Island; we need to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and see if the contract period can be abridged and thus, reduce the delivery time to 18 months or less instead of the initial 24 months projects delivery,” he added.
According to him, the state government will keep providing the necessary infrastructure, but individuals must take responsibility for it, keeping in mind that it is for everyone’s benefit.
Continuing, he said: “We will ramp up provision of resilient infrastructure and encourage people to take ownership while Government also take ownership of the responsibility impose by the statutes; our people must remember that tax payers funds are deployed to build these infrastructure.”
Wahab reminded everyone that there was no turning back from the complete ban on single-use plastics that went into effect in January. He also mentioned that littering, particularly with Styrofoam, had significantly decreased since the ban’s implementation. He said “There is no going back on total ban of SUPs. We are currently having conversations in respect of how to completely phase them off. The enforcement will take effect before the end of this month, January.”
The ministry will continue to advocate for attitudinal change in the new year, the commissioner said, adding that people need to understand that good changes in attitudes toward the environment are necessary for change to occur.
The commissioner at Ilubirin said he was pleased with the amount of work being done on the pumping station projects and that the station would be powered up for testing in ten days. He emphasized that all drainage channels on Lagos Island would discharge into the lagoon through the massive Ilubirin water pump project, which is the most important component of the regeneration process primarily to de-flood Lagos Island and its environs. These measures would permanently reduce the threat of flooding in the areas.
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With three large pumps, two 500KVA generators, and three control panels, the Ilubirin project can pump three million liters of water every hour, according to Wahab, who also emphasized that the initiative will benefit the entire town. He clarified that the large turbine pumps are intended to run autonomously and automatically, mostly using electricity from the public power grid with a 500KVA generator for backup.
Furthering, he revealed: “All the equipment are now in place, in 10 days or less, once the connection is completed, we would open the outlet for test running and this will also compliment the urban regeneration efforts to de-flood Lagos Island. Since Lagos is below sea level when the water rises from the lagoon, it can flow back from the city.”
In addition to stating that climate change and global warming are genuine, significant issues that need to be addressed from all angles, he urged all government agencies, particularly the ministry, to leave their offices and get out into the field to carry out their assigned duties.
The Commissioner ordered that three buildings on Adeniji Adele Road—numbers 65, 68, and 124—be immediately sealed off for dumping building materials on the drainage channels and warned developers and residents to refrain from doing so as this seriously obstructs the natural flow of water.
Engineer Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, the Special Adviser on Environment, stated that Lagos Island’s urban renewal is the long-term solution to the region’s flooding problem and emphasized that the government will not compromise in carrying out its duties to preserve a clean and flood-free environment. He urged Lagos Islanders to back the government when the project starts because it will benefit everyone and create a sustainable environment.
BrandSpur national news stories report that Other members of the entourage include Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services; Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services; Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, Managing Director, Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA; and a few Ministry directors. The crew examined the following locations: Princess Street, Isale Gangan; Aroloya Street; Idumagbo Street; Adeniji Adele Trapezoidial Canal; Epe Collector Drain along Adeniji Adele Road and Ilubirin; Bombata Multipurpose Market; and Oroyinyin neighborhood.
