Lagos advances circular economy with MRF projects in Badagry, Agbowa

Nike Popoola

The Lagos State Government has taken a further step towards advancing its circular economy agenda with a stakeholders’ engagement on the proposed development of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in Erekiti, Badagry and Agbowa, Ikosi-Ejirin.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, who spoke at the meeting, held on Thursday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja
said that the development of MRFs was critical to transforming Lagos’ waste management system from a conventional collect-and-dispose model to one that treats waste as a resource and an avenue for wealth creation.

A statement from the Director Public Affairs, Lagos Waste Management Authority
LAWMA, Mukaila Sanusi, today said he explained that the proposed MRFs were being developed by the Lagos State Government in partnership with Zoomlion as part of efforts to strengthen waste recovery, promote resource utilisation and create economic opportunities within the State’s waste management value chain.

He stated that Lagos generated over 13,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily, stressing the need to expand the State’s capacity to recover, process and reuse valuable materials while reducing dependence on landfill disposal.

According to him, the proposed MRFs at Erekiti, Badagry, and Agbowa, Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA, were flagship Waste Management Improvement Projects, conceived under the Health and Environment pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.

He added that the stakeholder engagement was aimed at providing host communities with a better understanding of modern MRF operations and securing their support and cooperation, noting that the projects were expected to create employment and skills development opportunities, particularly for youths and women, while improving environmental conditions.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Kamar Olowoshago, called for stakeholders’ collaboration for the successful execution of the initiative, including the enumeration of landed properties to be affected by the development, as he assured of the Bureau’s support in facilitating the necessary land-related processes.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, together with Zoomlion, presented the project brief, saying the proposed MRFs would strengthen Lagos’ waste recovery capacity as they represented an important step towards transitioning from a predominantly linear waste management model to a circular economy.

Gbadegesin explained that the facilities would promote waste segregation and recycling, reduce the volume of waste transported to landfills and facilitate the recovery of valuable materials for reintroduction into the production cycle.

“These facilities will support an integrated waste recovery value chain involving the receipt, sorting, processing and recovery of recyclable materials, including plastics, metals, paper and organic materials, for reuse and reintegration into productive activities”, he said.

He added that the MRFs would complement existing waste management infrastructure and support the State’s broader waste-to-wealth, waste-to-energy and resource recovery initiatives, thereby creating environmental, social and economic value from waste.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of Zoomlion, Mrs. Habiba Abubakar, said that the MRF development was a major milestone in strengthening public-private collaboration in sustainable waste management, noting that Zoomlion remained committed to supporting Lagos State in achieving its circular economy objectives through innovation and technical expertise.

Stakeholders led by the Abowa of Agbowa-Ikosi, Oba Owolabi Monson, and the Baale of Igoro Erekiti community, Chief Kayode Abila, gave their nod to the project, while calling for its speedy completion and increased government presence in their localities.

The engagement brought together traditional rulers, community leaders and other representatives of the host communities, including the Vice Chairman, Badagry Local Government, Hon. Hakeem Adeyemi
to promote understanding of the projects, address concerns and foster community participation in the developments.