“CONCEPT OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY HAS INSPIRED US TO RECLAIM WASTED VALUES” - GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday revealed that the concept of circular economy has inspired the state to adopt innovative approaches and enable it to reclaim values where it is currently being wasted.
The Governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab at the 2026 Nigeria Circular Economy Week held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, added that the aim is to continually make sure these systems outlast the present administration.
He stressed that the circular economy had also helped the state to create systems that keep materials in circulation and to build markets that turn environmental responsibility into economic opportunities.
He described the theme of the event "Turning Challenges into Markets", as very apt because it captures how the state views sustainability, not as a distant goal, but as a practical approach to competitiveness, resilience, and inclusive growth.
He said the state has taken bold steps to bring order back to the urban areas by clearing illegal structures under bridges, removing blockages along drainage paths and reclaiming public land that had become unsafe and environmentally risky.
Sanwo-Olu averred that these actions were essential for public safety, flood prevention, and environmental protection and they also signify something deeper which is the reclamation of land and infrastructure as valuable assets.
He explained that when the government clears drainage channels, it extends the life of the roads and public works, adding that when encroachments are removed, it restores natural flows of water which lowers the risk of flood.
The Governor stated further that reclaiming under-bridge spaces opens up opportunities for organised public usage which will include transport hubs, markets, green spaces, and community facilities. He maintained that environmental enforcement aligns with the principles of a circular economy and it brings value back to spaces and systems that had lost their productive potential.
He mentioned that the next step is to transform the enforcement successes into economic opportunities, saying that demolition and clearance efforts yield recoverable materials like metals, timber, plastics as well as reclaimed areas that can become hubs for repairs, recycling, and green businesses.
He said flood-resilient infrastructure helps minimise material loss, replacement costs, safeguarding resources and public investments and bringing informal waste workers into organised recovery systems can enhance livelihoods as well as bolster material supply chains.
Sanwo-Olu emphasised that the aforementioned are the tangible ways to turn environmental actions into market opportunities. He revealed that the government also focuses on locking in the progress made such as; Strengthening regulatory clarity to back Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks; expanding recycling infrastructure through partnerships between the public and private sectors.
He added that the government also support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that turn waste into marketable products that aligns public procurement with recycled and sustainable materials as well as formalises pathways for recovering materials from demolition and clearance activities
While the government can set the direction, it is collaboration that builds markets, stressing that Lagos State government is inviting investors to back circular enterprises that are ready to grow.
He added that the government encourages manufacturers to design products with reuse and recyclability in mind as well as urged researchers to take innovations from the lab to the production line.
The Governor emphasised that the government is calling on development partners to keep supporting frameworks that connect sustainability with economic opportunities.
Speaking during a panel session, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources Mr. Tokunbo Wahab said the State enacted a ban on the production, distribution and sale of single-use plastics in 2022.
The Commissioner, who was represented by the Director of Climate Change and Environmental Planning, Mr. Michael Bankole, added that the ban includes items like plastic bags, straws and cutlery to reduce plastic pollution and promote
sustainable alternatives.
Earlier in his remarks, Netherlands Ambassador, Ambassador Bengt Van Looschrecht said the Nigeria Circular Economy Programme commissioned by the African Development Bank and supported by the Government, aims at integrating circular principles into national policy to target the high-impact sectors such as agriculture, energy, waste management and industrial processes,
He added that the Netherlands worked closely to develop the Nigeria Circular Economy Programme that was launched by the Ministry of Environment in 2024 and Lagos has been identified as an initial pilot model for circularity.
According to him, the Netherlands will remain a partner of Nigeria in scaling holistic and sustainable solutions to address what is called the triple climate crisis - climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
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