- The Lagos State Government has received €120 million from the Dutch Government to support a waste-to-energy project.
- Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab announced that the project will process 2,500 to 3,000 tons of waste daily, significantly reducing landfill waste and promoting sustainability in Lagos.
The Lagos State Government has secured a €120 million support fund from the Dutch Government to enhance its waste-to-energy project in collaboration with the Dutch firm Harvest Waste Consortium. This initiative aims to convert a portion of Lagos’s waste into electricity, utilizing the decommissioned Epe landfill. The landfill will process between 2,500 and 3,000 tons of waste daily out of the estimated 13,000 to 14,000 tons generated nationwide.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, announced the funding in a post on his official X account on October 2, 2024. He emphasised that this project is pivotal for Lagos’s waste management strategy, allowing the state to transform its waste challenges into sustainable energy solutions.
Wahab highlighted that the Lagos State Government is decommissioning several existing landfills to make room for new waste management initiatives in partnership with foreign private companies, including the Jospong Group and Closing the Loop. Key dumpsites, such as Olusosun and Solous 1, 2, and 3, are nearing decommissioning, paving the way for more efficient waste processing.
Once fully operational, the partnerships established through these initiatives are expected to drastically reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. Wahab noted that the government anticipates only 3% to 4% of the waste generated in Lagos will end up in landfills, aligning with the state’s objective of converting waste into valuable resources and promoting sustainability.
This project is part of a broader effort by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to address waste management challenges in the city. In October 2023, LAWMA revealed its collaboration with C40 and G-ORBIT Enterprise to explore converting organic waste from markets into biogas, which can be used for electricity generation. This partnership signifies a commitment to innovative solutions in waste management and energy production.
The Lagos State Government’s partnership with the Dutch Government and Harvest Waste Consortium is a significant step towards a cleaner, more sustainable environment. By leveraging international support and expertise, Lagos aims to set a precedent in waste management, turning its waste crisis into an opportunity for energy production and environmental sustainability.