2026 WORLD CLEANUP DAY: LAGOSIANS ENJOINED TO EMBRACE RESPONSIBLE WASTE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR CLEANER, GREENER CITY. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

 2026 WORLD CLEANUP DAY: LAGOSIANS ENJOINED TO EMBRACE RESPONSIBLE WASTE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR CLEANER, GREENER CITY

The Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, urged residents to make responsible waste management a daily habit, stressing that the journey to cleaner and healthier cities begins with individual actions at home and in the community.

The call was made by the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olalekan Rotimi-Akodu, at the commemoration of the 2026 World CleanUp Day held at the ASSBIFI House, Alausa. 

Akodu, while highlighting the theme for the Clean Up Day “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” said the theme captures the fundamental link between personal responsibility and collective environmental wellbeing, noting that a clean city cannot be achieved through government intervention alone.

He stressed that the Day should not be viewed merely as an occasion for clearing streets and public spaces, but as a platform for driving systemic change in waste management, pollution control and environmental responsibility.

According to him, “It is a shared responsibility. Citizens, government and the private sector must act together.” He called for stronger partnerships with schools, non-governmental organisations, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders to promote waste reduction, resource recovery, recycling and responsible disposal.

The Special Adviser also underscored the importance of youth participation in environmental sustainability, noting that young Nigerians are increasingly taking the lead in community cleanup activities across the country. He advocated sustained support for youth-led initiatives as well as policy reforms and effective enforcement to tackle pollution at its source.

Akodu reminded Lagosians that World Cleanup Day is not a one-day event but a lifelong commitment, urging residents to turn cleanup activities into everyday habits. "This celebration therefore reinforces the State Government's message that achieving a cleaner Lagos requires sustained action from everyone residents, businesses, communities and young people - working together to make environmental responsibility a way of life", he said.

He reaffirmed the State Government's commitment to strengthening partnerships, advancing circular economy principles and promoting policies that address pollution at its source, while encouraging every resident to take ownership of the environment.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, said the message of this year's theme is simple but profound: “It starts at home. It starts on our plates”.

Gaji explained that the journey to a clean city does not begin at the dumpsite or with government waste trucks, but with everyday choices such as reducing food waste, sorting waste at source and preventing litter from finding its way into streets and drainage channels.

He noted that Lagos State's drive for source segregation in homes, offices, schools and government facilities is designed to improve waste management, keep drainage systems clear, enhance public health and create opportunities for resource recovery.

The Permanent Secretary said the State's circular economy agenda would help transform waste from a burden into an economic resource, adding that effective source segregation and recycling could stimulate green jobs, strengthen recycling industries and enhance the resilience of communities.

He commended development partners, particularly the ACRC under the Resilient Urban Futures Programme, as well as private-sector collaborators for supporting the State's efforts to promote sustainable waste management and unlock economic value from waste.

Gaji called on residents to take pride in their immediate environment by sorting their waste, recycling where possible and avoiding indiscriminate disposal, stressing that individual discipline in waste management ultimately translates into cleaner public spaces and a more sustainable Lagos.

In her lecture titled "From Market to Bin to Farm: Closing the Loop on Food Waste in Lagos", the Guest Lecturer and Founder of FABE International, Mrs. Temitope Okunnu said the journey of food waste should not end at the bin, stressing that large quantities of food and organic waste generated daily from markets, homes, restaurants and other food-related businesses in Lagos could be transformed from a sanitation challenge into a valuable resource.

 She advocated responsible consumption, waste reduction at source, proper segregation of organic waste and improved collection systems, noting that such measures would not only reduce the volume of waste requiring disposal but also unlock opportunities for environmental sustainability, innovation and economic development.

Okunnu further called for a collaborative approach involving government, market associations, farmers, waste managers, private-sector operators, communities and residents to establish a circular food-waste management system. 

She explained that composting and other environmentally sound processes could convert organic waste into soil conditioners and organic fertilisers for agricultural production, reducing pollution and pressure on dumpsites while creating jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities.

Also present at the event were the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, Heads of Agencies, as well as Directors in the Ministry.