The Lagos State Government has emphasized the importance of residents registering with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) to aid in infrastructure planning across sectors like health, education, and the environment. Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, highlighted that approximately 6,000 people arrive in Lagos daily, with about half intending to stay, leading to demographic shifts and increased strain on resources.

Wahab noted that Lagos, despite being the smallest state in Nigeria by landmass (3,575 square kilometers, a third of which is water), houses 10% of the nation's population. Many new arrivals come without shelter, with some resorting to sleeping under bridges and engaging in criminal activities. The state faces significant challenges in waste management, generating 13,000 to 14,000 tons of municipal waste daily, the highest in the sub-region. The government is transitioning to a circular economy model, converting waste to wealth and providing economic opportunities.

A significant issue is the illegal disposal of waste, with residents dumping refuse on roads, medians, open spaces, and drainages. While acknowledging perceptions of Lagos smelling due to dump sites like Olusosun and Solus 3, the government plans to decommission these sites within 18 months. Open defecation remains a problem, despite the availability of over 1,710 public toilets and approximately 7,000 toilets statewide, including those at eateries and petrol stations. The state is consulting with neighboring states to address cross-border issues and enforce regulations.

Wahab affirmed that the Lagos State Government takes offenders of illegal acts to court for community service, ensuring the state does not become a “failed state” where life is “nasty, brutish, and short.” The government is committed to increasing advocacy and building resilient infrastructure to accommodate the continuous influx of people. Lagos has become a “victim of its own prosperity,” but the government remains welcoming while focusing on sustainable development.

The Commissioner also addressed environmental sanitation, noting that newcomers sometimes bring habits detrimental to the environment. Efforts are ongoing to clear shanties along the coastal road construction, with abatement notices served to vacate the area before project completion. The ban on Single Use Plastics (SUPs) will be enforced starting in July, following an 18-month grace period for manufacturers to adjust. The ban excludes PET bottles, water sachets, and nylon carrier bags thicker than 40 microns but includes styrofoam food packs, polystyrene cups, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, and thin single-use carrier bags.

In related news, the Lagos State Government has recruited over 1,000 officers into the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to enhance grassroots security and community protection, further demonstrating its commitment to managing the challenges of a growing population.