On the 13th of February 2020, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), hosted a programme waste reduction and management.
High profile guests were invited such as Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu, the first lady of Lagos state. Mr. Tunji Bello, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Mr Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, Managing Director of LAWMA and Mr Waheed Ishola, State Director NOA.
Ambassador Obuesi Phillips, the global director of the Community Agenda for Peace (CAP) opened the programme introducing the problems of waste management in Lagos. He said the irresponsible waste pattern by citizens in Lagos state is one of the biggest factors causing waste pollution in the state.
According to him, there are two principal gaps in the proper disposals of waste. The first is the locals, and the second is the PSP. The locals accused the PSP of inadequate disposal of waste and the PSP accused the locals of the same thing.
He observed that the citizens of intentionally sabotaging the government’s hard work because of their high level of illiteracy. Ambassador Obuesi Phillips also said that the entertainment and social media have been discovered as the best way to properly inform Lagosians at the grassroots level.
Mrs Ronke Odeleye, representing Mr Tunji Bello, the Honourable Commissioner Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. She gave mentioned the four Rs she used to regulate her waste.
The first, Refuse the waste you don’t need. If they are distributing plastic you don’t need at a party, refuse it. The second, Refuse the source of buying, e.g. if you can pack all you buy in a reusable bag, refuse nylon.
The third, Repair what is spoilt. Buy durable and quality materials so that you can repair it when it spoils. The fourth, Reuse waste. Recycle your food waste, e.g. use your food waste on your plants. It can be a source of nutrients for the plants once it decomposes.
Mrs Ronke Odeleye introduced the Blue Box Program Launched by Governor Sanwoolu in September 2019. The Blue Box Program is a recyclable program that will endorse the separation of waste from its source. Although according to Mrs Odeleye, the Lagos state government is still working on the policy of the Blue Box Programme.
During the launching of the Blue Box Programme, Governor Babajide Sanwoolu said that 50 per cent of waste generated in Lagos state contained reusable materials that could be channelled to strengthen and develop the economy of Lagos state.
Colour coded bags will be distributed to each household henceforth by the environmental volunteer corps. The blue bag will be for the recyclable waste items, e.g. water sachets, nylon, cans, plastics, paper etc. The black bag will contain non-recyclable wastes.
She also introduced a new platform called “State of the environment”, if you see waste anywhere around the state upload it to the platform and the issue will be addressed. Last week, she said, Lagos launched the Lagos Resilience Strategy powered by the Rockefeller Foundation. The strategy is to identify three pillars, which are; Efficient City, Enterprise City, Inclusive City.
Dr Muyiwa Gbadegeshin, managing director of LAWMA discussed the waste to wealth, waste to energy project. He said that Lagos state has a population of about 24.6 million individuals and its rising every day. About 10,000 metric tons of waste is disposed of by the 24.6 million individuals residing in the state daily and the reusable waste of this 10,000 metric ton is worth $200 million dollars.
The Blue Box Program is also a waste to wealth program that will generate about $200 million dollars in the state if done properly. Some influential figures have joined the programme and have become ambassadors such as Funsho Adeolu, the popular Yoruba actor.
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr Ibijoke Sanwoolu closed the programme with her speech, she further promoted the Blue Box Programme the other speakers have already spoken about and how much effort the government was putting in developing and promoting the state, she mentions that proceeds generated from the waste to wealth programme will go to the development of the state and will pay the tuition fees of many students residing in the state to promote the level of education in the state.