Lagos Needs to Act Fast on Waste Management

Lagos does not have to wait until it smells really bad before taking action. The signs are clear and they stink. This problem can be a chance to rethink how our busy city manages its resources and infrastructure. A cleaner Lagos will need money, planning, new ideas, and the support of everyone. Most importantly, we need to work together to protect our environment, keep public health safe, and build a city where people can live and work with dignity.

What is that terrible smell? It is the waste truck leaving a trail of rubbish and bad odor behind. Each part of Lagos has its own smell, but none of them smell like roses.

Like many cities that are growing fast, Lagos struggles to keep its environment clean. The city is dealing with more people, more consumption, and more waste. An estimated 13,000 to 15,000 metric tonnes of waste is produced every day. This puts a huge strain on our collection and disposal systems. We have waste piling up at collection points, an old fleet of trucks that cannot keep up, blocked drainage channels, flooding, and poor sewage systems. These problems show just how much our infrastructure is lacking and how urban growth, infrastructure, and environmental health are all connected.

What can we learn from the Great Stink of 1858 in London? That summer, hot weather made the smell from the River Thames unbearable. The river had become a dumping ground for the city's untreated sewage. London's population was growing fast, and the sanitation systems could not keep up. The smell was so bad that it disrupted meetings in Parliament. This crisis led to new laws to build a proper sewer system, which changed London’s sanitation for the better and protected public health. What started as a terrible problem led to a big push for urban renewal.

But even after all these years, London still faces pollution and other environmental issues with the Thames. Also, cleaning up the Seine river for the 2024 Paris Olympics needed a lot of money for wastewater and sanitation improvements. This was part of a larger €1.4 billion plan, showing how much investment and planning is needed for environmental cleanup. These cases prove that managing the environment is a constant work in progress, even for cities with good infrastructure. Our systems for keeping cities clean must keep changing as populations grow, consumption increases, and environmental issues become more serious.

A clean environment is a job for everyone. Public authorities and waste management workers have key roles in providing reliable services. Residents and businesses should also help by disposing of waste properly, separating their rubbish, and not using drainage channels as dump sites. Public education and strong enforcement can help support these efforts.

So, what can Lagos learn from these lessons? First, waste management should be seen as a key part of city planning and development. Good waste collection and disposal is not just about using trucks. We need proper transfer and disposal sites, effective drainage, good sewage systems, reliable funding, regular maintenance, and teamwork between agencies.

Second, a clean environment is a shared responsibility. Public authorities and waste management companies must provide reliable services while residents and businesses do their part. The goal is to create a city where waste is managed properly, not just moved from one place to another. A truck that leaves dirt behind may have taken waste from one street but spread it elsewhere. We need to improve how we manage waste from collection to final disposal.

Urban growth has changed what cattle egrets eat. These birds used to follow cattle for food, but now they are often seen near waste trucks and garbage heaps. Urban life has changed their diet. After all, bird sef must chop! But there is a difference between adapting and making real progress. The cattle egret might have found a new food source, but we cannot use that as an excuse to neglect our responsibilities. Birds can adjust to our waste, but our cities should not have to.

Lagos should not wait until it faces its own Great Stink before taking action. The signs are clear and they stink. This issue is a chance to rethink how our city manages its resources and infrastructure. A cleaner Lagos will take investment, planning, new ideas, and the support of everyone. Most importantly, it calls for a commitment to protect the environment, keep public health safe, and create a city where people can live and work with dignity. One day, we hope that when a waste truck drives by, the only thing left behind will be the sound of its engine, not the bad smell.