Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has called on the Lagos State Government and its environmental agencies to take immediate and decisive action to address the worsening waste management and flooding crisis across the State.
In an Open Letter addressed to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, and the Commissioner for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, WELA expressed deep concern over the growing accumulation of refuse across major roads, highways, markets, residential communities and drainage channels.
The organisation noted that what was once an environmental concern has now become a serious public health challenge, contributing significantly to the persistent flooding experienced in many parts of Lagos during the rainy season.
WELA observed that major entry points into Lagos, including Badagry, Ojota and Ojodu Berger, are increasingly characterised by visible heaps of refuse, creating an unfavourable impression of Nigeria’s commercial capital and exposing residents to preventable health and environmental risks.
The organisation reminded the State Government of its constitutional obligation under Section 20 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which requires the State to protect and improve the environment for the benefit of all citizens.
According to WELA, residents of Lagos are entitled to a clean, healthy and safe environment and should not be forced to endure overflowing refuse dumps, blocked drainage systems and avoidable flooding caused by inadequate waste management.
The organisation therefore urged the relevant authorities to immediately implement visible and measurable measures, including:
- Prompt evacuation of accumulated refuse across the State;
- Clearance and maintenance of blocked drainage channels;
- Stronger environmental sanitation enforcement; and
- Sustainable waste management strategies to prevent future occurrences.
WELA has given the relevant authorities fourteen (14) days from the date of the Open Letter to take concrete steps to address the situation. The organisation stated that, should no meaningful action be taken within the stipulated period, it will consider instituting legal proceedings to compel compliance with the constitutional duty to protect and improve the environment.
Reaffirming its commitment to public interest advocacy, WELA emphasised that environmental protection is not merely a policy objective but a constitutional responsibility and an essential element of good governance. The organisation pledged to continue advocating for policies and actions that promote a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos for all residents.