Lagos Vows to Protect Coastline, Tackle Climate Risks

The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting its vulnerable coastline and building sustainable infrastructure to combat the growing impacts of climate change.

This was revealed in a statement issued Monday by Kunle Adesina, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. The remarks followed comments by the Commissioner for the Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, who represented Lagos at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

Wahab noted that as a coastal megacity, Lagos faces severe climate threats including rising sea levels, intense rainfall, and extreme heat. He said:

“We are not sitting back. We are building resilient infrastructure… We must face our realities and take ownership of the infrastructure we are putting in place.”

To address flooding, Wahab disclosed that the state had consistently cleared primary and secondary drainage channels, and constructed 76km of trapezoidal drainage systems over the past two years.

He also highlighted the state’s transition to a circular economy in waste management, noting that Lagos now generates over 13,000 tonnes of waste daily.

“In the last two years, we have chosen to categorise waste as a resource… a resource for wealth, for energy; not just as waste anymore,” he said.

The commissioner emphasized that these steps are part of Lagos’ broader strategy to build a more climate-resilient, sustainable, and environmentally responsible urban ecosystem.