The Lagos State Goverment is set to commence enforcement on the ban of Single-Use Plastics, SUPs, in the next two weeks.

This comes as the mega pumping station being constructed in Ilubirin to permanently address the issue of flooding in Lagos Island is set for operations next week.

State Commissioner for The Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this on Sunday, during an inspection tour of flood-prone areas and all on-going projects and new ones at Lagos Island and its environs climaxing at ilubirin, Waterfront.

Wahab, had last year December, at a stakeholders’ workshop and awareness on the implementation of the ban on the usage of Styrofoam and SUPs for packaging, saud enforcement would commence from January 2025, as part of measures by the State Government to put in place policy guidelines for plastic utility in further ensuring a sustainable management of plastic waste, healthy and safe environment.

The state government had in January 2024 banned the use of styrofoam in all government establishments and across the metropolis in general, following the increasing prevalence of plastic waste and its negative on the environment in recent years.

Speaking with newsmen at Ilubirin Pump Station, after the inspection, the commissioner, said, “

“In fairness to government, we saw the level of degradation there was infrastructure that was built by Julius Berger contracted by government, properly done with road network, functional drainage and walkway.

“However, bad human behaviour clogged-up the system.

“This tour became necessary as the Governor has re-awarded the regeneration of the total infrastructure of Lagos Island; we need to ensure the contractors are ready to commence and see if the contract period can be abridged and thus, reduce the delivery time to 18 months or less instead of the initial 24 months projects delivery,” Wahab said.

He maintained that the state government will continue to provide requisite infrastructure but the citizens must take ownership of the infrastructure with a mind that it is for the good of all.

“We will ramp up provision of resilient infrastructure and encourage people to take ownership while Government also take ownership of the responsibility impose by the statutes; our people must remember that tax payers funds are deployed to build these infrastructure,” he said.

The commissioner reminded all that there was no going back on the commencement of a total ban on single use plastics from January few days time, adding that Littering especially with styrofoam has reduced drastically compared to when enforcement of its ban initially started.

“There is no going back on total ban of SUPs. We are currently having conversations in respect on how to completely phase them off.

“The enforcement will take effect before the end of this month, January,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner said the ministry will in the new year continue its advocacy for attitudinal change adding that citizens must know that in order to experience change, attitudes towards the environment must also positively change.

Ilubirin 3m cubic litres per hr pumping station

At Ilubirin the commissioner, expressed satisfaction with the level of work on the pumping station projects, adding that the station will be energized within the next 10 days for test running.

He said the massive Ilubirin water pump project is the most critical part of the regeneration process majorly to de-flood Lagos Island and environs, adding that all drainage channels in Lagos Island would discharge into the Lagoon through the these pumps, stressing that these measures would permanently curb the menace of flooding in the areas.

Wahab explained that the Ilubirin project has three major pumps, two 500KVA Generators, three Control Panels with a pumping capacity of three million litres of water per hour, stressing that the project would be very beneficial to the entire community.

He explained that the big turbine pumps are designed to function automatically and self operating, to be powered majorly by public power electricity which will be backed up with a 500KVA generator.

According to him, “All the equipment are now in place, in 10 days or less, once the connection is completed, we would open the outlet for test running and this will also compliment the urban regeneration efforts to de-flood Lagos Island.

“Since Lagos is below sea level when the water rises from the lagoon, it can flow back from the city.”

He urged all agencies of government, especially the ministry to move out of their offices into the field and engage in responsibilities that is required of their respective agencies, adding that global warming and climate change is real and a serious issue that must be confronted from all fronts.

Wahab, warned developers and residents to desist from dumping building materials on the roads and drainage channels which causes serious blockage to natural flow of water, while ordering the immediate sealing of three buildings on Adeniji Adele Road which are: Number 65, 68 and 124 for dumping of building materials on the drainage channels.

The Special Adviser on Environment,
Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the urban regeneration of Lagos Island is the lasting solution to the menace of flooding in the area, stressing
that government will not relent in performing it’s responsibilities of maintaining flood free and clean environment.

He appealed to residents of Lagos Island to support the government when the project commences as it will be beneficial to all and for a sustainable environment.

Others in the entourage include: Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Omobolaji Gaji; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Lagos Waste Management Authourity, LAWMA, Managing Director, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin and some directors from the Ministry

The places visited by the team were: Bombata Multipurpose Market; Oroyinyin area,; Princess Street, Isale Gangan; Aroloya Street; Idumagbo Street; Adeniji Adele Trapezoidial Canal; Epe Collector Drain along Adeniji Adele Road and Ilubirin.