By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Lagos State Government has commenced moves to harmonise rates and charges for wastewater and faecal sludge management to strengthen regulation, improve service delivery and establish a financially sustainable framework for the sector.
On Sunday, the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office presented its proposed rates and charges to the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission during a regulatory engagement at LASWARCO’s office in Alausa, Ikeja.
The presentation was led by the General Manager of LSWMO, Adefemi Afolabi, alongside heads of strategic departments.
The move comes amid increasing wastewater generation driven by Lagos’ growing population and rapid urbanisation, with the government seeking to improve compliance with environmental and sanitation standards.
Receiving the delegation, LASWARCO Executive Secretary, Mrs Bukola Adeyemo, welcomed the initiative and stressed the need for a regulatory framework that would ensure effective service delivery while protecting public health and the environment.
Afolabi said the proposed rates and charges were critical to creating a sustainable wastewater management system, adding that a structured tariff regime would give property owners, businesses, facility managers and service providers greater certainty about costs and regulatory requirements.
“We are laying the foundation for a more structured wastewater and faecal sludge management regime capable of safeguarding waterways, protecting communities and advancing the vision of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos,” he said.
The proposed framework is expected to strengthen compliance and accountability across the wastewater value chain while providing a predictable basis for planning, monitoring and service delivery.
The government said the reform was necessary due to the growing volume of wastewater generated across Lagos and the need to ensure its collection, treatment and disposal did not pose risks to waterways and communities.
The initiative forms part of LSWMO’s broader regulatory reforms to reposition wastewater management as a key component of environmental governance, public health protection and sustainable urban development.
The agency said the proposed rates and charges would not take effect immediately, as they remained subject to further technical, regulatory and legislative consideration.
Following the engagement, the proposals are expected to proceed to the legislative stage for consideration before the required approval and gazetting process.
The government said the reform was aimed at establishing an environmentally compliant, financially sustainable and professionally regulated wastewater management system capable of meeting the needs of Lagos’ rapidly growing population.