By Uzor Odigbo
Lagos State waste generation data has been rated outdated by an environmentalist and waste management expert vast on recycled waste evacuation.
This was disclosed by Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sweep Foundation, Barrister Philip Ozoemena Obuesi during a chat in Lagos.
Obuesi controverted an existing data on the amount of waste generated in Lagos which is said to be about 14.000 metric tones daily.
According to him, this data had expired and cannot stand as factual evidence based on recent realities on waste collection and management in the State.
‘14000 metric tones of waste cannot be relied upon in today’s Lagos.
.”I have read existing books on Lagos environmental waste generation and was surprised that some people are quoting the same data year in year out, but I must say here that the data is much more than that, because many people move into Lagos on daily basis and they generate solid, liquid, gasious and other types of waste, therefore, in my estimation, having been in this sector for some time now, I’m stating that 14000 metric tones data as waste generated in Lagos daily was not realistic, it’s much more higher, it’s between 17, 000 to 18, 000 metric tones daily,” he said.
On why his Non Governmental Organization (NGO) ‘Waste In The City’ pilot project had concentrated it’s activities in Lagos State,” he said: “Lagos is highly populated, Lagos is the business hub of Nigeria and West Africa and capable of generating more solid waste than other cities in the country.
“So, if four or five years ago people are still saying the state is generating 14000m tones of waste daily, it then means we are not thinking rightly enough, that’s why I insisted that the data is unrealistic.
“We concentrated in Lagos because, it’s in Lagos that we have quantum of waste that can be used as a Nationwide campaign to other states.
“Lagos State has more population of people living unsustainably, which means, there are educated people living unsustainable lifestyle and generating unsustainabile waste.
“We chose Lagos to run our pilot project because more people are here where more diverse waste are generated. I have to repeat this because Lagos generates lots and all kinds of waste not known in most Mega cities of the World.
“What Lagosians are witnessing is a pilot project that will soon cut across states like Akwa Ibom, Anambra and Ogun States, in fact, we are moving into Ogun State on Tuesday,” he said.
Obuesi, a trained environmental Lawyer also studied petroleum law at University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus years back. He said his interest in environmental and waste management was not a makeshift, rather, from a genuine desire to bequeath to future generations a healthy and better environment to Cherish.
According to him, ‘Waste in the City’ pilot project will clock one year in December this year but was actually launched on February 25th, 2021 by her Excellency wife of Lagos State governor, Dr. Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu.”
“Since the waste in the City pilot project was launched, it has been a mixed feeling.
“We came with a model that’s new and innovative, we decided to place waste recycling receptacles equipment across different locations in Lagos because gone are the days you used to have refuse dumpsites across the city.
“What is happening now is that Lagos State established LAWMA with trucks and these trucks pick up wastes from the road side and other places. And because of the small size of Lagos, the dumpsites are overwhelmed.
“At the moment, Lagos is planing closing down some dumpsites, especially the one at Olusosun around Ojota .If this dumpsite is closed, where would these waste be dumped. This brought about the idea of prompting up-cycling and re-cycling.
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“Up-cycling means using the solid waste in building fences, like soft drink bottles and expired tyres for furniture.
“The communities have started talking about sustainability of better environment, the World have started talking about sustainable economy and the experience has been wonderful.”
“The people receive us because we tried to bridge the gap between the people and waste collection agencies.
“We have deployed, at the last count 120 receptacles across different locations and Local government Areas, we also deployed some easy to move tri-cycles .
“My joy about all these effort is that the environment would be preserved better if we continue on these effort and more.
“What frightens me is that by 2030, the World would be moving towards total eradication of focile fuel which means oil won’t matter anymore for combustible purposes because of the demand for favourable climatic change that would engender better world environment .
“The world is tired of talking about combustible fuel, the world now is talking about tapping in the natural climatic reservations as against adverse climatic changes and challenges.
“My joy is that I’m playing my part towards a sustainable human environment, towards ensuring that there’s something left behind for future generations when I’m gone,” he said.
Obuesi chronicled the challenges his organization is facing in ensuring that Lagos remains clean.
Some of them are that Lagos residents dispose waste any way they like, through a moving vehicle, into the gutters, on the roads and water channels.
To this end, Obuesi said, the orientation and enlightenment among residents must change for a better Lagos environment.