- LASG Pushes New Waste to Energy Strategy to Reduce Landfill Use
- Wahab noted that Lagos currently faces significant waste management issues
- The plant will also be designed with a carbon-conscious approach
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday reaffirmed its commitment to reducing the volume of waste ending up in landfill sites by introducing innovative solutions such as the Waste to Energy Plant.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, announced this during the Lagos Investors Summit 2.0, held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.
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He explained that the plant is a forward-thinking initiative aimed at converting waste into energy, simultaneously addressing Lagos State’s waste management challenges and boosting energy production.
While discussing the summit’s theme, Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Making a Lagos 21st Century Economy, Wahab highlighted that the Waste to Energy Plant presents a valuable opportunity to increase the state’s power generation capacity by utilizing municipal solid waste as a resource.
He noted that Lagos currently faces significant waste management issues, with about 80 percent of landfill capacity close to exhaustion, only 63 percent coverage by formal waste collection, and 67 percent of households disposing of waste through illegal dumping.
These problems, he said, contribute heavily to flooding during extreme weather events, as blocked drainage systems are unable to cope with water flow.
According to Wahab, the project offers an internal rate of return of 12 percent over a 20-year operational period, driven by electricity pricing and the introduction of a tipping fee.
What sets this project apart, he said, is its contribution to flood prevention, enhanced energy security, revenue generation, and alignment with the National Energy Transition Plan.
He added that the plant will help clear solid waste from densely populated areas, ensure environmentally friendly waste disposal, support landfill maintenance, and provide clean energy to as many as two million residents.
The plant will also be designed with a carbon-conscious approach.
The facility is expected to be located in Epe, with an estimated capital expenditure of 400 million US dollars.
Wahab emphasized that Lagos is particularly vulnerable to climate risks. By 2050, it is projected that much of the state will face extreme heat, and over 65 percent of the population may be affected by flooding.
He added that climate change-related extreme weather could significantly impact critical infrastructure, including more than 1000 education and healthcare centers likely to face disruptions due to flooding.
To tackle this, Wahab announced the implementation of an Early Warning System for extreme weather events, aimed at addressing climate and flood-related challenges in Lagos.
He explained that the project is designed to be self-sustaining, with strong revenue potential and scalability to other regions.
It will be developed through a private sector model involving design, construction, financing, and operation with minimal government involvement.
He concluded by stating that the Early Warning System will support disaster management, data collection, and risk protection to safeguard lives and property from flooding and heatwaves.
