LASG, Swedish organizations team up for sustainable waste management

October 15, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

Lagos State Government has taken further steps toward transforming its waste management landscape by partnering with Swedish organizations to convert solid and liquid waste into energy.

This innovative collaboration aims to harness the potential of waste as a valuable resource, addressing the state’s environmental challenges.

Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, reiterated the Government’s commitment to waste conversion, emphasizing its priority status. “Waste is not a waste but a resource,” Wahab stressed, highlighting the state’s daily waste generation of 13,000 to 14,000 tonnes.

During a meeting at Alausa, Wahab welcomed a delegation from Sweden, comprising representatives from the Swedish Trade and Investment Council (Business Sweden), Honourary Consul of Sweden in Nigeria, Swedish Development Agency (SDA), NIR International Council of Swedish Industry, and Swedfund.

Wahab explained that the state’s vision is to become a 21st-century mega city, with decongested roads and reduced emissions. He noted that Lagos accounts for over 50% of Nigeria’s vehicular traffic, with a population of 22 million people inhabiting less than 3,600 square kilometers of land.

This underscores the urgency for effective waste management solutions.

The Commissioner highlighted the state’s previous consultations with Dutch companies, which laid the groundwork for this partnership.

The collaboration will focus on waste-to-energy conversion and electronic waste management.

Sara Ibru, representative of the Consul of Sweden and Business Promotion Officer at the Sweden Embassy in Abuja, praised the Lagos Government’s proactive approach. “We are willing to collaborate with Lagos State to turn solid and liquid wastes into valuable resources,” Ibru said.

Wahab emphasized that the project is not an option but a necessity, given the state’s environmental challenges. He requested a roadmap from the Swedish organizations, which will be integrated into the state’s overall strategy.

Permanent Secretaries Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen (Office of Environmental Services) and Engr. Mahamood Adegbite (Drainage Services) joined Wahab in receiving the Swedish delegation.