The Lagos State Government announced plans to close Olusosun and Solus landfills within the next 18 months as part of efforts to keep the city clean. The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated that the landfills would be converted into modern Transfer Loading Stations for waste sorting, compacting, and redirection to recycling facilities. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure a clean, sustainable, and pleasant city environment, dismissing claims that Lagos has a foul odor.
Wahab emphasized that Lagos is not experiencing unpleasant smells but rather moving towards sustainable waste management, improved landfill practices, cleaner waterways, and structured sanitation systems. The government, under Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, is committed to implementing environmental initiatives for a cleaner and more sustainable city.
In addition to the landfill closures, the government has installed over 50 air quality monitors across strategic locations to monitor emissions. Waste collection services have been extended to remote areas, with the introduction of tricycle compactors in partnership with Ibeju Lekki Local Government for efficient waste collection on a pay-as-you-go basis in areas with inaccessible roads.
The state is also progressing with its Waste to Energy project in Epe, which aims to process 2,500 tonnes of solid waste daily and generate 60-80 megawatts of electricity for the Lagos power grid. Street sanitation efforts involve deploying 15,000 street sweepers daily, enforcing environmental laws rigorously, and constructing 150 public toilets, with an additional 250 planned through a public-private partnership to combat open defecation.