Lagos State Government Reiterates Commitment to Efficient Water and Waste Management

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to managing the state's water resources efficiently and sustainably. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Barr Tokunbo Wahab states that the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), the regulatory body overseeing water supply, treatment, and distribution, has made significant strides in improving water regulation and service delivery.

He said LASWARCO has obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 certifications, making it the first water regulatory commission in Nigeria to achieve these international standards. This milestone reflects the Commission's commitment to quality and safety management, ensuring water provision and service delivery meet global standards.

Wahab confirmed that the Commission has developed essential regulatory tools, including licensing guidelines, performance-based contracts, and water quality regulations, to enhance oversight and transparency. Additionally, LASWARCO has introduced a mobile application for real-time registration and monitoring of packaged water producers, increasing compliance among industrial and commercial abstractors from 10% to 55%.

He added the Lagos State Government is also committed to revolutionizing the state's waste management process, transitioning from a linear "collect and dump" system to a sustainable circular economy. The government has initiated the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to develop waste-to-resource opportunities, improve waste collection and recycling, and establish a smelting plant for electronic waste conversion.

According to him, the State Government has signed an MOU with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste Consortium, for the construction of a high-efficiency 60-80 MW Waste-to-Energy plant on the Epe landfill, which will generate clean energy from municipal solid waste.

To maintain a clean Lagos, Barr Wahab announced that the government deploys 15,000 street sweepers across highways, inner roads, and markets daily, while also enforcing environmental laws and penalizing indiscriminate waste disposal defaulters. The state is also constructing modern public toilets in markets, transport hubs, and informal settlements to improve access to proper sanitation and hygiene.

While noting that initiatives demonstrate the government's commitment to improving the quality of life for Lagosians, the Commissioner said the Lagos State Government remains committed to ensuring the state's water resources are managed efficiently and sustainably, while also promoting environmental cleanliness and sustainable waste management practices. .