*State govt invests in wastewater management
*Gov Sanwo-Olu sets up 5-year plan
By Yemi Olakitan
The World Health Organization, WHO, states that if wastewater is not collected by individual systems, in major cities, it is discharged without treatment into the street or into public storm water drains, causing contamination of water bodies and health risks.
As a result, the Lagos State Government sought stakeholders’ assistance in the efficient management of the state’s wastewater. It pointed out that there aren’t enough wastewater treatment facilities in Lagos State to handle the estimated 20 million citizens’ wastewater efficiently.
The Lagos State Government examined a number of factors that have an impact on the efficiency of wastewater management in the state and estimates that the state generates around 2.2 billion cubic meters of wastewater every day.
Commissioner for the environment and water resources, Tunji Bello, revealed this at a community awareness workshop on the subject of “Wastewater Management and Community Involvement” that was held at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
The workshop was organised by the waste management office in Lagos. Bello cites the state people’s large daily wastewater production as “one of the key challenges facing the Lagos State Government.
“However, as a government, we have made choices and will keep taking bold action to solve the wastewater issue. We established the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office in 2010 to oversee the proper management of wastewater in the State.
A five-year strategy was also made to set the direction for the sector’s growth. The agency has the necessary legal foundation, thanks to Part IX of the Environmental Management and Protection Law, which was passed in 2017 and is dedicated especially to wastewater management.’’ “We have boosted our investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure by building wastewater treatment plants in five general hospitals, including Shomolu, Surulere, Ifako-Ijaiye, certain Lagos HOMS estates and Modular Septage Pre-treatment Plants in six sites, among other things.’’
‘‘We also strengthened the capacity of the sector’s workers by exposing them to domestic and foreign trainings for efficient job performance, among many other successes.’’
‘‘The wastewater industry is undoubtedly not where it needs to be, but we are not giving up, we are resilient, and we are committed to achieving our set targets.’’
‘‘While we are committed to achieving these goals, we also need your assistance as communities, opinion leaders, practitioners, and followers, as well as parents, children, students, employers, and employees. We recognize that there is still much work to be done in order to realize our goals for the wastewater sector. We need your assistance because you are the original creators of wastewater.’’ He said.
NatureNews.Africa gathered that in order to support the Wastewater sector as well as the Water sector, the Ministry is assiduously working on the WASH policy to strengthen it and ensure that it addresses the needs of the Water sector. The Lagos State Government is aiming to improve waste management practices, expand the number of public restrooms, and decrease the harm that floods causes to the environment.
As a government, Lagos intends to encourage private investment by liberalizing the market.
Bello said, ‘‘we are depending on your help as we embark on this road to realize the second pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of the current administration, which is Health and Environment. On behalf of Mr. Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, I hereby extend an invitation to all attendees to engage in a fruitful conversation at this forum, from all regions of the state and beyond. Mr. Governor will certainly treat your suggestions with the utmost attention. You may be sure of that.’’
The Waste Management Office’s General Manager, Engr. Adebola Matanmi, emphasized that the forum’s main goal was to implement the state’s wastewater management policy.
The GM summarized wastewater management in Lagos State from the 1950s to present, stating that “sewage has long been known and regarded as a potential health threat and environmental nuisance in Lagos State.”
“For many years, household sewage was collected by soil men (elebe oru mascara) at night and dumped in the Lagos Lagoon or other bodies of water or fields. During the day, the sewage was kept in pails.’’ Throughout this time, the vast majority of people relied on open defecation, vented improved pit latrines, and pit latrines.
The State Government passed the “abolition of pail latrine system” law in the late 1980s to put an end to the use of pail latrines and make provisions for the construction of the Water Closet and its accessories. The Lagos state government also constructed five wastewater treatment plants at this time in Abesan, Oke-Afa, Amuwo- Odofin, and Iponri Low Cost Housing Estates as well as the Secretariat, Alausa, to herald in a contemporary era of wastewater management in the state. The State Government created an institutional framework for the effective management of wastewater in 2010 by founding the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO).
According to Matanmi, the amount of untreated residential wastewater produced in Lagos State today is approximately 2.20 million cubic metres per day, based on a daily water consumption rate of 120 litres per person (Source: LWC). Additionally, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Engr. Nurudeen Shodeinde, said, “We all produce wastewater every day. Wastewater is created when water is used for a variety of purposes, including bathing, cooking, going to the toilet, peeing, brushing our teeth, washing our clothes, and cleaning our cars.’’
Furthermore, the State Government asked residents to follow a culture of proper waste disposal, cleanliness in all forms, and safety precautions throughout the Christmas and New Year celebrations in order to maintain a healthy environment.
