Lagos, Nigeria’s vibrant economic hub, pulses with the energy of over 22 million people, all living on the edge of a precarious coastal shelf. Here, the realities of climate change, rising seas, torrential rains, and sprawling waste aren’t distant threats but daily challenges. Yet, in the face of these pressures, Lagos is stepping up with bold moves to protect its future. From cracking down on reckless development to turning trash into treasure, the state’s recent efforts through agencies like the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) show a city determined to adapt. While these steps are promising, they also reveal gaps that need addressing to ensure resilience reaches every corner of this sprawling metropolis.

Lagos’s vulnerability is no abstract concern. From March to October, excessive rainfall compounds sea level rise, creating tidal locks that trap stormwater and unleash flash floods. Communities like Idotun and Okun Ajah have already vanished beneath the waves, a stark reminder of the stakes. Reclamation projects have ballooned the state’s landmass from 3,577 to 4,050 square kilometers, fueling economic growth but often at the expense of vital wetlands and mangroves that once buffered against erosion. As Tokunbo Wahab, Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, noted during a recent panel at Harvard Business School’s “Rising Seas, Resilient Communities: Climate Adaptation Strategies in West Africa,” unchecked human activities, driven by greed for real estate could spell a “recipe for future crisis.” The state’s response? Rigorous environmental impact assessments and drainage master plans for all reclamation, ensuring that development does not devour its own foundation.

This regulatory backbone was on full display in the week’s operations. On September 18, the Ministry suspended all ongoing reclamation projects across key areas like Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, and Badagry, demanding comprehensive documentation and reconnection of blocked waterways. While this halt disrupts timelines for developers, it is a necessary circuit breaker, prioritizing ecosystem integrity over short-term gains. Critics might argue it risks stalling economic momentum in a city where real estate drives jobs and revenue. Yet, viewed through the lens of long-term habitability, it is a prudent recalibration. The Great Wall of Lagos, built under former Governor (now President) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, already shields Victoria Island from surges; extending such foresight to all reclamation sites could prevent more losses like those in Okun Ajah. The challenge lies in streamlining approvals to avoid bureaucratic paralysis, a fine line that Lagos must navigate to keep innovation flowing without flooding risks escalating.

Parallel to these terrestrial safeguards, LASEPA’s initiatives highlighted the power of grassroots engagement. On September 16 and 17, the agency rolled out a two-day Sensitization and Awareness Programme under the theme “The Power of Small Actions: How Individuals Shape a Sustainable World.” Targeting students at Lagos State University of Science and Technology in Ikorodu, the sessions promoted energy conservation, waste reduction, and the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” ethos. Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, LASEPA’s General Manager, emphasized practical steps like proper disposal of used oils to avert soil contamination. This youth-focused approach is spot-on: with Lagos’s population skewing young, empowering the next generation could yield exponential behavioral shifts. However, as insightful as these talks are, their impact hinges on follow-through. How will LASEPA measure adoption rates or integrate feedback loops? A critical eye reveals the need for digital tracking tools to bridge awareness with accountability.

The crescendo came on September 20, World Clean-Up Day, where LASEPA teamed up with the Oju Eko Community Empowerment Initiatives for a hands-on sanitation drive at Alhaja Abibat Mogaji Sunday Market in Ogba. Under the banner “Tackling Textile and Fashion Waste through Circular Fashion,” volunteers swept away plastics, sachets, and fabric scraps from market stalls. Mrs. Olabisi Shonibare, standing in for Dr. Ajayi, invoked the adage that “cleanliness is next to godliness,” while market secretary Mrs. Folashade Salako pledged traders’ ongoing cooperation. This event not only beautified a high-traffic hub but also spotlighted fashion waste as a burgeoning crisis; textiles now rival plastics in terms of environmental toll. It’s a clever pivot, aligning global themes with local realities, and fostering community ownership. That said, one-off clean-ups, while visually striking, risk becoming performative if not embedded in year-round incentives like subsidies for recycled fabric bins. LASEPA’s September 15 Air Quality Index report, which flagged vehicular emissions as 70 percent of smog sources, complements this by enforcing annual inspections. Enforcement is ramping up, but scaling it to informal transport hubs could amplify breathable air gains.

Waste management, the linchpin of urban resilience, saw LAWMA flex its muscles in ways that signal a genuine paradigm shift. Long reliant on linear landfills, now largely close to being decommissioned as the authority is aggressively pursuing a circular model, treating refuse as “resource for wealth and energy.” On September 19, LAWMA hosted a stakeholder forum launching an organic waste partnership with Proganics Limited, a Ghanaian firm processing 200 tonnes daily into animal feed and fertilizers. Building on an MOU signed 18 months prior, this deal diverts over 13,000 metric tons annually from Lagos streams, paving the way to shutter relics like Olushosun and Solus 3 landfills within 18 months. Transfer stations will soon rise within the state, slashing landfill reliance and birthing green jobs. Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, LAWMA’s MD/CEO, touted this at the September 3 Property & Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) awards as part of a tech-driven recycling push aiming for 30 percent diversion by 2030. It’s a subnational masterstroke, sidestepping federal hurdles by tapping regional expertise.

Yet, for all its promise, LAWMA’s operations invite scrutiny on equity. While PSP operators now number over 450, coverage lags in low-income areas, where tricycle compactors on pay-as-you-go models are rolling out in Ibeju-Lekki but not universally. Public complaints, like those on Admiralty Way where filth persists despite alerts, expose gaps in responsiveness. A critical perspective demands more: integrate AI for route optimization and subsidize fees for the poorest households, as World Bank surveys suggest low awareness hampers participation. LAWMA’s summer school program, which concluded August 28, equipped pupils with sustainability tools, a smart seed-planting exercise. Extending it to adult literacy in slums could democratize the circular economy.

LSWMO’s contributions, though quieter, are no less vital in averting liquid waste from fueling floods. The September 8 sealing of EMCEL Court Phase I and Well Stock Apartments in Ikota GRA for dumping untreated wastewater into drains set a firm tone, with effects rippling into the week’s advocacy. This followed arrests of illegal dumpers, dubbed the “Bola Boys,” and a styrofoam ban, safeguarding waterways from blockages that exacerbate tidal locks during five-plus-hour downpours. Prosecutions under Commissioner Wahab’s legal lens deter violators, but rehabilitation, perhaps mandatory eco-audits for reopens, could turn penalties into teachable moments. Earlier August actions, like sealing six public toilets in Idi Araba, reinforce this vigilance, though scaling to the city’s 23 million waste generators requires bolder tech, such as sensor-monitored sewers.

These activities are a part of Lagos’s broader climate drive: the 2024 Lagos State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP), updated in June, maps risks from flooding to heatwaves, with pre-feasibility studies eyeing waste-to-energy. Partnerships, from Ghana’s Proganics to federal collaborations, amplify subnational reach, as Wahab highlighted at Harvard. Regional forums could further harmonize coastal defenses, given Togo’s outsized influence.

Critically, Lagos’s strategy shines in its holism; enforcement tempers with education, borders blur for shared solutions. Yet, it falters where execution meets scale: persistent black spots and uneven access risk alienating the very communities meant to benefit. Public trust, eroded by past inaction, demands transparency and while prosecuting ecosystem wreckers is just one part, pairing it with incentives for green building could accelerate buy-in from developers.

Lagos is not yet the paragon of resilience, but it is evolving. These operations prove intent outpaces inertia. As Wahab asserts, climate change is “real to us,” but so is our capacity to adapt. By refining equity, tech infusion, and accountability, Lagos can lead West Africa not just in survival, but in thriving amid the tide. The continent watches: will this megacity turn peril into precedent?

The Lagos State Government has formally notified traders at the popular Computer Village in Ikeja of plans to relocate the market to Katangowa in the Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area. Traders have been given an 18-month timeline to complete the move, which was communicated during a stakeholders meeting held on Monday.

At the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Architect Gbolahan Oki, stated that the Katangowa site is now ready for occupation. According to him, the necessary infrastructure and amenities have been put in place to make the environment suitable for business operations.

Oki explained that the current location of Computer Village in Ikeja was originally designated as a residential area and has over time been transformed into a bustling commercial hub without formal government approval. This, he said, has created planning and regulatory challenges for the state.

He revealed that the plan to relocate the market to Katangowa has been in existence since 2006. However, progress was stalled for years due to the slow pace of development at the new site. With major construction and infrastructure now completed, he said the time has come to implement the long-delayed move.

Oki emphasized that the relocation aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to inclusive governance and citizen welfare. He assured the traders that the state government remains focused on carrying all stakeholders along throughout the transition process. He described the Katangowa site as a carefully planned 15-hectare commercial layout specifically designed to support technology-based businesses.

While acknowledging that transitions can be challenging, Oki encouraged the traders to cooperate with the government, stating that the long-term benefits of the move would outweigh the short-term disruptions. He reiterated the 18-month deadline and called on market leaders to begin preparing for the relocation.

In the meantime, the state government has warned against continued use of walkways and roadside spaces for trading activities at the current Ikeja location. Oki stressed that enforcement actions would be taken against any violators of the state’s physical planning regulations.

Further details about the Katangowa site were provided by the project coordinator, Olayinka Bello, who outlined key features of the new market, including a police post, hotel facilities, and proximity to a BRT terminal to ease transportation. She added that road construction in the area is ongoing to improve access for traders and customers alike.

Bello also highlighted the economic advantages of the relocation, noting that the new market would promote business expansion, generate employment for youth, increase internally generated revenue, and help decongest the current Computer Village environment.

Also speaking at the event, the Iyaloja of Computer Village, Chief Abisola Azeez, recalled that the decision to move the market was originally reached in 2006 during the tenure of then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now President of Nigeria. She urged traders to honour the agreement and support the government’s relocation efforts.

The stakeholders meeting marks the beginning of what the government describes as the final phase of the long-awaited transition, aimed at transforming market operations and urban planning in the state.

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, joined dignitaries across the Diplomatic Corps, Government, Corporate Nigeria, and Industries to celebrate the People’s Republic of China’s 76th anniversary at a colourful celebration held in the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, September 22.

In his keynote speech on the ‘Nigeria-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’, Speaker Obasa extended heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of China on the historic milestone and toasted to stronger ties between the two nations, which share October 1st as their Independence Day.

He traced Nigeria and China’s strong and enduring partnership to the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1971, and commended their treatment of each other as equals and with mutual respect. According to him, the relationship between the two countries has withstood the tumults of international changes, but mutual trust has been enhanced continuously while practical cooperation has yielded fruitful outcomes.

He cited a recent media report credited to the Consul General of China in Lagos, Yan Yuqing, who said that bilateral trade between China and Nigeria reached $15.48 billion between January and July 2025. The Speaker also referenced the renewal of a 15 billion Yuan ($2 billion) currency swap agreement, which is expected to strengthen cooperation and promote bilateral trade and investment between both countries, and streamline trade transactions by eliminating the need for US dollars as an intermediary currency.

Not forgetting also, the Speaker continued, the upgraded military partnership between the two countries, with China focusing on local arms production and military training as part of efforts to improve security in Nigeria and across Africa, which he said is already bearing fruit.

He linked these significant outcomes to the resolutions reached during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State Visit in September 2024, to China and to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), principal of which is a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which primary focus is to build a high-level China-Nigeria Community with a shared future, underpinned by strategic mutual trust and support for core interests, including sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“During the visit, President Xi Jinping and President Tinubu had a cordial and in-depth exchange on China-Nigeria relations as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest, Obasa recalled, adding, “The two Presidents agreed that both countries stood at a new historical starting point as significant representatives of major developing countries and emerging economies. And they resolved that their strengthened strategic cooperation will propel a new dynamic for China-Africa relations in the new era.”

Particularly, Speaker Obasa praised China’s support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, which promotes economic development and improves people’s welfare, while maintaining national unity, social stability, security, and peace.

He also highlighted China’s contributions to infrastructure projects in Lagos, saying, “Lagos has witnessed remarkable growth through significant Chinese investments in the development of critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and rail systems, which have enhanced our economic landscape and enriched our societies.”

Obasa called for continued collaboration to address global challenges like climate change and economic inequality and expressed confidence in a shared prosperous future.

In her welcome address, Yuqing, the Chinese Consul General, said that the increase in trade volume reflected the growing strength of China-Nigeria relations, describing Nigeria as China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa. Yuqing corroborated Obasa’s declaration that the elevation of relations between both countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit had created broader prospects for cooperation.

According to her, collaborations in infrastructure, energy resources, trade, culture, and education continue to deepen while bringing tangible benefits to the citizens of both nations. “Nigeria and China, guided by the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit, and all-round cooperation, have yielded remarkable results,” she said.

Yuqing also commended the Chinese community in Nigeria for contributing to cultural exchanges, local development, and charity initiatives, urging them to remain bridge-builders in strengthening China-Nigeria friendship.