Circular economy inspires Lagos to reclaim wasted value – Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the concept of a circular economy is inspiring the state to adopt innovative approaches that enable it to reclaim value where it is
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said the concept of a circular economy is inspiring the state to adopt innovative approaches that enable it to reclaim value where it is currently wasted.
Speaking at the 2026 Nigeria Circular Economy Week, with the theme, “Turning Challenges into Markets,” held in Lagos, he said the goal is to ensure that the systems being built outlive the present administration.
Represented by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, Sanwo-Olu said the circular economy framework has helped Lagos create systems that keep materials in circulation and build markets that turn environmental responsibility into economic opportunities.
The governor said the theme reflects the state’s view of sustainability not as a distant aspiration but as a practical pathway to competitiveness, resilience and inclusive growth.
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“Our journey has taught us a crucial lesson: circularity starts with good governance. Before we can reuse materials, we need functioning systems in place. Before new markets can develop, we must restore order. Before investments can flow, we need safe and predictable environments,” he said.
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Sanwo-Olu said the state has taken bold steps to restore order in urban areas by clearing illegal structures under bridges, removing blockages along drainage paths and reclaiming public land that had become unsafe and environmentally risky.
According to him, the measures are essential for public safety, flood prevention and environmental protection, while also signifying a deeper process of reclaiming land and infrastructure as valuable assets.
“When we clear drainage channels, we extend the life of roads and public works. When encroachments are removed, we restore natural water flows and lower flood risks,” he said.
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He added that reclaiming under-bridge spaces opens opportunities for organised public use, including transport hubs, markets, green spaces and community facilities, noting that environmental enforcement aligns with circular economy principles by restoring value to spaces that had lost their productive potential.
The governor said the next phase is to convert enforcement gains into economic opportunities, explaining that demolition and clearance activities yield recoverable materials such as metals, timber and plastics, while reclaimed areas can serve as hubs for repairs, recycling and green businesses.
He noted that flood-resilient infrastructure reduces material losses and replacement costs, safeguards public investments and resources, and that integrating informal waste workers into organised recovery systems would enhance livelihoods and strengthen material supply chains.
Wahab said the state is also focused on consolidating progress by strengthening regulatory clarity to support Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks, expanding recycling infrastructure through public-private partnerships, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that convert waste into marketable products, aligning public procurement with recycled and sustainable materials, and formalising material recovery from demolition and clearance activities.
He noted that while government can set direction, collaboration is key to building markets, adding that Lagos is inviting investors to back scalable circular enterprises.
He urged manufacturers to design products with reuse and recyclability in mind and called on researchers to move innovations from laboratories to production lines. He also appealed to development partners to sustain support for frameworks that link sustainability with economic opportunities.
The Netherlands Ambassador, Bengt van Loosdrecht, said the Nigeria Circular Economy Programme, commissioned by the African Development Bank and supported by the Dutch government, aims to integrate circular principles into national policy across high-impact sectors including agriculture, energy, waste management and industrial processes.
He said the Netherlands worked closely to develop the programme, which was launched by the Federal Ministry of Environment in 2024, with Lagos identified as a pilot model for circularity. According to him, the Netherlands will remain a partner to Nigeria in scaling holistic and sustainable solutions to address the triple climate crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
