As climate change continues to reshape the world, coastal cities like Lagos are feeling the heat, quite literally as rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and extreme temperatures pose daily threats to the infrastructure and way of life.
EpeInsights reports that rather than sit back and watch, Lagos is taking bold, deliberate steps to build a safer, greener and more sustainable future.
This commitment was reaffirmed over the weekend by the Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
Representing the state on the global stage, Wahab shared the government’s vision to safeguard the coastline and transform Lagos into a model of climate resilience.
“Lagos, as a coastal state, faces severe climate risks from rising sea levels, extreme rainfall and excessive heat. But we are not sitting back. We are building resilient infrastructure,” Wahab emphasized.
One major step the state has taken is improving its drainage infrastructure. Over the past two years, Lagos has constructed more than 76 kilometres of trapezoidal drainage channels and continues all-year-round clearing of both primary and secondary drains.
This proactive approach is aimed at minimizing the impact of flash floods, especially during the rainy season.
Turning Waste into Wealth
With over 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily, Lagos is rethinking waste management. Gone are the days of the “pick and dump” system.
The state is now shifting toward a circular economy where waste is not discarded but reused, recycled, or converted into energy.
“We’ve moved from simply seeing waste as a nuisance to treating it as a valuable resource,” said Wahab.
“In fact, waste is now a resource for wealth and energy.”
This shift is evident in recent policy moves, such as the ban on styrofoam food containers and the upcoming enforcement of a ban on single-use plastics beginning July 1.
The state had earlier given a generous 18-month moratorium to allow users and producers time to adapt.
Planning for the Future
At the heart of these initiatives is a focus on sustainability.
Lagos is not just responding to today’s environmental challenges, it is planning for future generations.
From coastline protection to climate-smart waste policies, the state is creating systems that residents can be proud of and that future Lagosians will inherit.
“We must take ownership of our infrastructure and our environment,” Wahab urged.
“That’s the only way to build a resilient Lagos.”
With continued investment, innovation and global partnerships, Lagos is proving that urban resilience is not just a buzzword, it’s a mission.
Climate Change
