By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Executive Secretary of the Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP), Mrs. Dede Kadiri, has urged residents to adopt environmentally sustainable practices to combat climate change, improve waste management and reduce flooding.
Kadiri made the call in an interview in Lagos on Friday, saying government policies alone would not solve the state’s environmental challenges without active community participation.
She said one of LACSOP’s key interventions is the Citizens-Led Accountability Mechanism (CLAIM) project, which promotes citizen engagement in governance and environmental sustainability.
Kadiri urged residents to support the Lagos State Government’s single-use plastics ban and adopt practices that protect the environment.
“Waste management remains one of Lagos State’s biggest environmental challenges. Through the CLAIM project, we are working with communities to identify and address these problems,” she said.
According to her, the project, launched in 2025, began with pilot programmes in Apapa and Lagos Island because of their coastal location, historical significance and strategic role in community engagement.
She said the initiative had trained and mobilised more than 200 civil society organisations to promote environmental awareness, organise community clean-up exercises and advocate improved waste evacuation.
Kadiri said residents had also been empowered to sort waste, embrace recycling and explore waste-to-wealth opportunities that support the circular economy while generating income.
She stressed that tackling climate change required collective action, urging residents to take responsibility for the waste they generate.
“We cannot wait for government alone. The sooner we take responsibility for our waste, the sooner we can reduce flooding and other climate-related challenges,” she said.
Also speaking, CLAIM Project Community Officer for Lagos Island, Mrs. Bunmi Tejumola, said the Bread for the World-supported pilot targets youths aged 18 to 35, including Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
She said participants had been trained on waste sorting, recycling and advocacy, leading to improved waste evacuation in some communities and helping reduce refuse accumulation that contributes to flooding.
