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By Sunday Ani
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Mr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, has assured residents that the state government would ensure a safe, healthy and secured environment for everyone to thrive.
Speaking at the third Lagos recyclers conference organised by the Lagos Recyclers Association (LAGRA), Mr. Gbadegesin revealed that the state currently mops up 14,000 tons of waste every day, and about 85 percent of that is not totally useless, but is reused and recycled for other tangible products because some of the wastes still have some value.
“We still maintain the mantra of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. People must reduce the waste and desist from dumping the same in the roads. We have arrested over 1000 offenders in the last one year. “
He affirmed that LAWMA has started segmenting the state for recyclers to operate effectively as community recycling centres would come on stream in 2025 as a drop off point for rural dwellers to dispose of their waste in the most hygienic manner.
“What you think is a waste is not entirely a waste. Engage the recyclers in your community and most of them would appreciate that. People have no excuse to drop waste indiscriminately. Very soon, we shall resume enforcement because we are mandated to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone in Lagos. Cleanliness is next to godliness,” he added.
For the host, Dr. Femi Adegoke who is the President of LAGRA, circular economy is a course every government must pursue, given the roadmap at the federal level for all tiers of government to use as a framework and guide to achieve the circular economy target by 2050.
Adegoke who is the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for the Environment, commented on bridging the funding gap, stressed that the Federal Government has assured the financing of green projects as exemplified in the circular economy through its green bond, hence the need for recyclers to key into the financial instrument offering.
He commended Lagos government for championing community circular economy even before the roadmap was launched. “Embassy of the Netherlands is collaborating with the Lagos state government and some of our members to scale up the circular economy, so recyclers should understand and explore investment opportunities in this regard. We can only achieve a circular economy collectively. We must all manage our waste properly. Citizens must not stand aloof. Waste management is everybody’s business. In Nigeria, we can make about $10billion if we properly harness the potential in waste management,” he maintained.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Mrs. Titi Oshodi, reiterated the commercial aspects of waste management, hence the need to dispose of waste responsibly and manage the same for economic growth and development.
“There is a need for advocacy, communication and education of waste management. There are different philosophies of waste. We generate a lot of waste which can be used to create job opportunities. We need to expand the scope of waste management and the circular economy for good health and wealth creation,” she added.
