Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the fight against plastic pollution, joining efforts led by the Community Development Advocacy Foundation.
At a forum held in Lagos, several state ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, pledged their backing for the initiative.
In a goodwill statement delivered at the Expanded Zero Waste Parliament, LASEPA lauded the dedication of its partners and participants, reiterating its pledge to collaborate with the foundation.
Represented by Mrs Faderera Koko, LASEPA’s General Manager stated, “We are delighted to witness the Expanded Zero Waste Parliament initiative taking root, uniting stakeholders from diverse sectors to promote sustainability and reduce waste across Lagos. This collective effort is vital for advancing circular economy practices, conserving natural resources, and safeguarding public health.”
Yewande Obasa, representing the Ministry of the Environment, emphasised that the campaign highlights the importance of multi-sector collaboration to achieve long-lasting environmental change.
The Ministry of Agriculture also signaled its readiness to partner with the foundation, revealing that a dedicated site in Epe has been allocated for a waste recycling project.
In his keynote address, Weyinmi Okotie, Clean Air Programme Manager, noted that vegetable waste, which makes up nearly half of all urban waste in cities like Lagos, has often been overlooked.
He stressed that increased awareness would encourage market women to properly manage organic waste instead of discarding it freely.
Okotie also warned that the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste generates methane, a greenhouse gas contributing approximately 30 per cent to global warming.
He urged all stakeholders to take decisive action to “turn off the plastic tap,” thereby pressuring plastic producers to reduce output.