WAITING FOR THE NEXT DISASTER: FROM OGBA IN LAGOS STATE TO IJEBU-ODE IN OGUN STATE A DECADE APART, SAME WARNING.

"Nigeria cannot continue waiting for the next school air pollution disaster before taking environmental safety seriously. A decade apart, the message remains painfully unchanged."

As an environmentalist with over two decades of professional experience, I am concerned every day about how well-prepared we are in the event of an environmental disaster. Just last week, I was discussing how well we are prepared to analyze air, water, and soil pollution in the event of an urgent situation that requires scientific findings to help unravel any incident, contamination, or pollution that may occur in our environment. My answer last Monday was that we are not ready. We don't have portable environmental equipment that can be deployed at the nano level of detection. To my surprise, the incident in Ijebu-Ode was all in the news.  But this is not the first time, and may not be the last time.

A warning to the country

Let me take you on a journey. On the morning of Friday, 15th May,2026, it was reported that more than one hundred students and teachers at Anglican Girls' Grammar School and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, collapsed inside their classrooms. They were vomiting. They were complaining of stomach pain, dizziness, and weakness. It was the second mass-casualty gas leak in Ijebu-Ode in less than two months. The first, on 1 April, had sent thirty students and a teacher of Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School to the hospital after a strange gaseous substance spread across the school compound shortly after morning assembly. Unconfirmed reports show that air quality monitors at the school later recorded peak methane concentrations of approximately 13,500 parts per million in the surrounding area.

If any of this sounds familiar — the morning assembly, the collapsing children, the strange odour from no clear source, the panicked teachers, the parents at hospital gates, etc.— that is because we have been here before. We have seen a similar situation; we have been here, in almost every detail, for at least thirteen years. On 1 November 2013, twenty-two pupils of Ogba Junior Secondary School, in the Ogba neighbourhood of Ikeja Local Government Area in Lagos State, fainted after inhaling a gaseous substance during school hours. Four months later, on Thursday, 6 March 2014, the same fate befell the same school. Eighteen more children — twelve of them girls, one boy among them — collapsed at around 1 p.m. From Ogba in 2013 and 2014 to Ijebu-Ode in 2026, more than a decade has passed. The geography has shifted thirty kilometres east, across a state line. The pollutant has shifted from a presumed photographic laboratory chemical to methane gas. The number of victims has roughly quadrupled. But the structural pattern — the failure to stop the incident, the reactive rather than proactive monitoring has not changed at all.

What these incidents tell us:

Before we start the blame game and start calling each other names, it is essential to understand why school air pollution events are uniquely dangerous. Children breathe faster than adults. Their lungs are still developing, and they absorb more pollutants relative to their body weight than adults do. This biological vulnerability makes schools one of the most critical environments for air quality protection, and school air pollution events among the most damaging in terms of public health consequences. According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is now one of the leading environmental health risks globally, especially for children living in rapidly urbanising regions. Exposure to polluted air can cause: Asthma attacks and acute respiratory distress, Persistent headaches and chest pain, Eye and throat irritation, Dizziness, nausea, and fainting, Reduced concentration and cognitive impairment, Long-term lung damage and reduced lung function, Cardiovascular stress, Weakened immune response, Neurological and developmental consequences if pollution exposure is sustained.

One of the greatest dangers of urban air pollution is that it is frequently invisible. Many of the most dangerous pollutants in the Nigerian urban environment have no detectable smell, no visible colour, and no immediate physical sensation — until concentration levels reach a crisis point. Common invisible pollutants include:

• Carbon monoxide (CO) — colourless, odourless gas produced by generators and motor vehicles; causes dizziness, confusion, and death at high concentrations

• Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) — produced by traffic and industrial processes; causes airway inflammation and long-term lung damage

• Sulphur dioxide (SO2) — industrial combustion by-product; triggers asthma attacks and respiratory distress

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) — evaporate from fuels, solvents, and photographic chemicals; many are carcinogenic

• Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream

• Coarse particulate matter (PM10) — construction and road dust; causes respiratory irritation

• Methane (CH4) — at high concentrations, displaces oxygen and is toxic;

• Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) —toxic even at low concentrations; smells of rotten eggs

In many Nigerian cities, schools already face chronic low-level exposure from traffic emissions, diesel generators, refuse burning, industrial smoke, construction dust, fuel evaporation, and poor waste management — even when no dramatic incident occurs. Without continuous monitoring, dangerous chronic conditions may go unnoticed until a major incident crystallises an invisible crisis into a public emergency.

What are we learning from all these incidents?

We do not know what is in the air around our schools: the school air quality monitoring programme is a critical component of urban air pollution monitoring. However, this cannot be said to be part of the continuous air quality monitoring programme of most urbanized cities in the world. Schools are sited in environmental hot zones: a walk around most schools in urban areas shows how vulnerable the students are. The amount of pollutants school students are exposed to in urban areas is becoming alarming. Now, our urban planning legislation, environmental impact assessment regulations, and zoning frameworks should — in principle — prevent the siting of schools immediately adjacent to unregulated sites.

The growing urban heat crisis in Lagos and surrounding regions is actively intensifying air pollution risks around schools. Scientific studies confirm that hotter urban environments worsen:

• Smog formation — heat accelerates photochemical reactions that produce ground-level ozone

• Ozone concentration — Lagos already regularly exceeds the WHO ozone guideline thresholds

• Chemical reactions in polluted air — elevated temperatures accelerate the breakdown of VOCs into secondary pollutants

• Dust suspension — hotter, drier conditions keep particulate matter airborne longer

• Heat stress combined with pollution exposure — compounding biological burden on children's developing systems.

As Lagos State and the urban corridor into Ogun State become hotter — driven by rapid urbanisation, impervious surface expansion, loss of tree canopy, and global climate change — densely populated schools with poor ventilation and no air quality monitoring become steadily more vulnerable. The urban heat island effect, which already raises temperatures in Ikeja, Mushin, and Ajeromi-Ifelodun by up to 8 degrees Celsius above surrounding areas, is not separate from the air pollution problem. It is one of its principal drivers.

What can we change to make our school environment safer for children?

What is new — what these two incidents, separated by more than a decade and a state line, make impossible to deny — is that incremental, voluntary, advisory reform is no longer sufficient. The system must be rebuilt around five legally enforceable principles.

1.  A national School Environmental Safety Standard  —  Nigeria needs a binding Federal regulation, gazetted by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Education jointly, that establishes minimum environmental safety standards for the siting, operation, and continuous monitoring of every primary and secondary school in the country. The standard must specify minimum setback distances from chemical-emitting commercial operations, landfills, industrial facilities, fuel depots, and active dump sites; it must specify mandatory ambient air quality monitoring for any school within five kilometres of such facilities; and it must specify legal penalties for the operators of facilities that cause school-targeting contamination events.

2.  Mandatory continuous air quality monitoring at all schools in environmental risk zones  —Every Nigerian school within a defined urban environmental risk zone — to be mapped through publicly available satellite-derived and ground-survey land-use data — must be equipped with a continuous air quality monitor sending real-time readings.

3.  A statutory health surveillance follow-up and review of incidents — When a school air pollution incident occurs, the response must not end with hospital discharge. Affected children must undergo a medical surveillance programme — three-month, six-month, and one-year follow-ups, at a minimum — and the aggregate findings must be published in an annual public health report. Without longitudinal data, Nigeria cannot know whether these incidents, like Ogba 2013, Ogba 2014, Ijebu-Ode April 2026, and Ijebu-Ode May 2026, are producing chronic respiratory, neurological, or developmental consequences in the children who survived them. Without that knowledge, the political case for stronger regulation will always be vulnerable to the argument that the children "recovered."

4.  A public, real-time, school-by-school environmental risk register  —  every Nigerian state — must conduct and publish, online and continuously updated, a school-by-school register of all known and suspected environmental hazards within defined proximity radii. Parents must be able to look up their child's school and see what is in the neighbourhood. Schools known to be at risk must be flagged. Schools where incidents have occurred must remain flagged. Transparency, in this domain, is itself a form of regulation.

Conclusion

As Nigeria grapples with rapid urbanization and climate pressures that can worsen pollution, ignoring these warnings risks the next disaster—not "if," but "when" and "where." The children in Ogba classrooms in 2014 and Ijebu-Ode in 2026 are a major warning for the country to take a bold step.  Future generations cannot afford the same inaction. Parents, educators, and policymakers must come together before another school bell rings amid invisible threats. The air our children breathe should not be a gamble. It's time to move beyond waiting for the next incident. From Ogba in 2013 to Ijebu-Ode in 2026, enough is enough. For professional bodies, the Institute of Public Analysts, the Nigeria Environmental Society, etc. It is now a national call to serve. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

 

LAGOS AND THE LOW METHANE DRIVE: WHAT SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT AFRICA’S MOST AMBITIOUS SUB-NATIONAL WASTE METHANE REDUCTION PLAN.

 

Lagos's 30% methane reduction target by 2030 equals an annual reduction of 34,400 tonnes of methane -- equivalent to taking 642,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road for one year. (RMI WasteMAP Analysis, 2025)

In 2023, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made a commitment of an ambitious waste methane reduction plan. This made Lagos to become the first Africa subnational jurisdiction to formally join the Lowering Organic Waste Methane Initiative. Today, the state is doing the talk with action. Why methane, why this action and why now.

 Methane (CH₄) is the simplest hydrocarbon and a critical molecule in energy, climate science, and everyday life. Methane comes from both natural and human activities. About 60% of current emissions are anthropogenic. It is an invisible and and dangerous silent killer. It is odourless and Methane (CH₄) is the second-largest contributor to anthropogenic warming after carbon dioxide. What makes it uniquely important is the combination of two properties: its extraordinary potency and its relatively short atmospheric lifespan. The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6, 2021) assigns methane a 20-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) of approximately 81–83 times that of CO₂, and a 100-year GWP of 28–34. Put another way, every tonne of methane emitted today does the work of 83 tonnes of CO₂ within the next two decades. Because methane remains in the atmosphere for roughly twelve years — compared with centuries for CO₂ — cutting methane emissions today produces measurable cooling within a decade.  colourless, but most powerful “blanket” trapping heat around our plant today.

 Why Lagos and Why Now…..

Lagos sits on a low-lying coastal plain at the mouth of the Gulf of Guinea, with more than 40 per cent of its land area covered by water bodies and wetlands and an average elevation under 15 metres. With a population of over 20 million and a projection that the figure could double again by 2050. It is very important to put every action in place to reduce and climate derivatives Lagos may contribute into the global scenario.  For Lagos Greenhouse Gas Inventory, conducted under the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GPC), a total city emissions of 26,443,656 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent was recorded for the 2015 baseline year — approximately 1.3 tonnes per capita. That per-capita figure is broadly in line with other major African cities such as Accra and Dar es Salaam, but the absolute total is striking. Under a business-as-usual scenario, Lagos's emissions are projected to nearly triple by 2050, to roughly 72.8 million tCO₂e. Without intervention, the city would become a much larger climate problem within a single generation.

Lagos GHG emissions by sector, 2015 baseline

Sector	Share	tCO₂e (2015)	Primary source
Stationary energy	55.1%	~14,563,000	Generators, grid electricity
Waste	25.3%	~6,688,000	Landfills, wastewater, open burning
Transport	19.6%	~5,183,000	Petrol and diesel vehicles
Total	100%	26,443,656	Lagos GHG inventory (GPC)

 

Within that total, the waste sector is the second-largest contributor at 25.3 per cent — about 6.69 million tCO₂e a year. The waste-sector share alone is roughly equivalent to 29 per cent of Nigeria's national waste emissions — a single subnational jurisdiction accounting for nearly a third of a country of more than 220 million people. That concentration is precisely what makes Lagos a leverage point: an action taken at city level produces a result at national scale.

So where is the waste emission from: Methane generation is fundamentally driven by the degradable organic carbon (DOC) fraction of the waste stream. Lagos generates more than 13,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste each day, of which roughly half is organic. Lagos has a high proportion of organic waste (approximately 45-68% food waste) in the MSW stream. Developing countries typically have 40-60% biodegradable organic content in their waste streams, compared to approximately 14-41% in developed nations (Mathur et al., 2020; Ciula et al., 2020). This organic richness makes Lagos landfills prolific methane producers. The bulk of this waste are deposited at various landfill sites. Olusosun landfill site which account for a large percentage of this emission. A recent satellite remote sensing has placed Olusosun under direct observation. RMI's WasteMAP platform, drawing on plume observations made by the GHGSat satellite between October 2023 and September 2024 via SRON's TWOS Initiative, provides the first sustained satellite-based estimate of the site's annualised methane emission rate.

The methane challenge extends beyond Lagos. According to Climate Change Tracker data, methane accounts for well over half of Nigeria's total warming impact. In 2020, methane emissions from Nigeria's oil and gas sector alone reached 152.95 million metric tonnes CO2 equivalent (MtCO2e) — driven primarily by gas flaring and fugitive emissions from oil infrastructure (Afripoli, 2023). These represent approximately two-thirds of national methane emissions. Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), updated in 2021 under the Paris Agreement, commits the country to a 20% unconditional and 45% conditional reduction in GHG emissions below BAU by 2030. Specific to methane, Nigeria has committed to: ending gas flaring by 2030, deploying 13 GW of off-grid solar PV, and reducing waste methane by 10% by 2030. In November 2022, Nigeria announced new regulations requiring leak detection and repair on oil and gas infrastructure and mandating high-efficiency flares (CATF, 2022).

However, Lagos has clearly shown leadership in its policy and action. The Lagos LOW-Methane Portfolio is a published ambition action plan that translate activities into specific, time-bound, numerical targets. As a state we are committed to 30 per cent reduction in waste-disposal methane emissions by 2030, equivalent in absolute terms to an annual reduction of approximately 34,400 tonnes of methane — roughly comparable, in 20-year warming impact, to taking 642,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles off the road for a full year. The portfolio anchors the headline target to two priority goals with quantified content. Goal one is the expansion of organic waste treatment capacity to 2,000 tonnes per day by 2030, with collection systems established across 20 large food markets. Goal two is the decommissioning of five existing dumpsites by 2030, accelerating the closure of Olusosun and commissioning a new sanitary landfill with integrated landfill gas capture. CCAC's own analysis, based on the lines of action set out in the portfolio, projects 24,900 tonnes of annual methane abatement by 2030, with priority goal one alone delivering 13,300 tonnes per year and priority goal two contributing the remainder.

Beyond portfolio, we have hit the ground running, in the next eighteen-month the state is closing down five waste site and transitioning it to a sanitary landfills with integrated gas-capture infrastructure. Also, we are investing in organics waste treatment facilities. The Ikosi Fruit Market biodigester, is a clear example of the State Government commitment of policy direction to action. This will help convert large volumes of organic waste — primarily fruits and vegetables — which are formerly sent directly to landfill are now been challenged into biogas facilities. The LOW-M initiative targets the implementation of organic waste collection in 20 food markets and other large organic waste generators by 2030. Also, there is an abmbitious waste separation at sources initiative intended to separate waste at source. The proposed Lagos Recycling Initiative tend to mandate separate bins for wet and dry waste in households.

 When Lagos delivers the LOW-Methane Portfolio's 2030 targets, the city will have done something no other African subnational jurisdiction has demonstrated at scale: a measurable, satellite-verifiable reduction in waste-sector methane emissions, anchored to functioning treatment infrastructure rather than to declarations. The CCAC's projection of 24,900 tonnes per year of methane abatement, applied at IPCC AR6's twenty-year global warming potential, is climatically equivalent to roughly two million tonnes of CO₂ each year — comparable in scale to taking several hundred thousand passenger vehicles off the road annually. The science is clear about what is been done and the action that is on the ground. The implementation is the part that has to be earned. The science of methane is one of the few unambiguously good-news stories in climate policy: the gas is potent, but it is short-lived, and cuts deliver fast. The challenge is institutional, not chemical. Lagos has demonstrated to be a global test of whether one of the world's largest, fastest-growing, lowest-elevation megacities can still pull the lever in time.

Lagos stands at a critical inflection point. As Africa's most populous city and Nigeria's economic heartbeat, it simultaneously embodies the continent's development aspirations and its climate vulnerability. The scientific evidence is clear Lagos is committed to a low methane action. Yet the data also reveal a powerful opportunity. Lagos has the institutional will and the technical knowledge, however, it requires international partnerships to cut waste methane by 30% before 2030. A 24,900-tonne annual methane reduction — equivalent to taking 642,000 cars off the road — is not merely an environmental goal. It means cleaner air, fewer respiratory illnesses and new green jobs in a transition economy. This is ambitious and commendable.

 "For A Greater Lagos" and "A Greater Lagos Rising".

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE MEGACITY: HOW LAGOS CAN EMBED ESG INTO POLICY AND OPERATIONS.

Lagos is not just Nigeria's commercial capital; it is Africa's fastest-growing megacity, a sprawling coastal metropolis of over 22 million people with a 187-kilometre coastline that places it on the frontlines of climate change. As the state government pursues its ambitious T.H.E.M.E.S Plus development agenda, the question is no longer whether to prioritise sustainability, but how to systematically integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into the machinery of government itself. The evidence from recent policy launches, investment frameworks, and institutional reforms suggests that Lagos is already moving in this direction—but scaling these efforts into a cohesive operational framework requires deliberate strategy.

 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors are like the three musketeers of sustainable development—each plays a crucial role in shaping the future of urban life. Environmental factors deal with the city’s ecological footprint, like air quality and waste management, while social factors emphasize societal well-being, covering aspects like equity, health, and housing. Governance ties it all together, focusing on the transparency and accountability of policies that steer a megacity’s direction. Together, they create a roadmap for balancing growth with responsibility.

 ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, is a triad of criteria used to measure the sustainability and societal impact of an investment in a business or a city. Think of it as a report card for how well a mega city like Lagos is playing nice with its environment, its people, and itself. Grasping the essence of ESG is crucial for urban centers aiming to thrive in today’s eco-conscious world. For Lagos, integrating these principles could transform challenges into opportunities, enhancing the quality of life for its millions of residents. ESG plays a pivotal role in shaping urban development strategies that are not just about building tall structures but also about creating resilient communities. It encourages cities to adopt smart growth practices—balancing economic growth with environmental stewardship and social equity. In Lagos, this could manifest as green buildings, accessible public transport, and inclusive public spaces that cater to all citizens, making the city not just livable, but lovable. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles provide a holistic approach to policy-making and project implementation, ensuring that development outcomes are not only economically viable but also environmentally responsible, socially inclusive, and institutionally accountable.

Why ESG Matters for Lagos:

Like other mega cities in the world, Lagos experience: Increasing flooding and climate risks, rising waste management challenges, pressure on housing, transport, and social infrastructure, growing need for transparency and accountability in governance. Integrating ESG into urban policies offers a buffet of benefits for megacities. First off, it drives investment by attracting eco-conscious businesses and investors who are looking for sustainable ventures. Secondly, it enhances the quality of life for residents by prioritizing social equity and access to resources. Think better parks, cleaner air, and affordable housing! Moreover, strong governance leads to efficient service delivery, making the city a more attractive place to live, work, and play. So, everyone wins—except maybe the traffic congestion; it’s here to stay.

Integrating ESG into government operations enables Lagos to: Improve environmental sustainability, Reduce social inequality, Strengthen governance systems and attract international investment and donor funding. Around the globe, megacities have set shining examples of successful ESG policies. From Singapore's innovative green building regulations to Amsterdam's focus on sustainable transportation, these cities show Lagos that it’s possible to weave ESG into the very fabric of urban life. By studying these case studies, Lagos can learn valuable lessons and adapt effective strategies to meet its unique challenges—and maybe even snag a few tips on how to manage its infamous traffic jams!

If Lagos want to shine like other mega cities who has integrate the principle of ESG into policy, plans and actions. We need to create a clear vision for a sustainable Lago by setting the stage for future success. This vision should outline specific goals and objectives that align with environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability. To ensure we’re not just spinning our wheels, we need to establish clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for measuring ESG performance. These metrics help us gauge progress across various sectors, from air quality to waste management to community engagement.

 

With well-defined KPIs, Lagos can keep its eye on the prize, identifying what works, what doesn’t, and where we need to pivot. It’s like having a GPS for sustainability—always knowing where we stand and how to get where we want to go.
What gets measured gets managed, and for Lagos to genuinely embed ESG into its policies, robust data collection and reporting mechanisms are essential. From tracking emissions to participation rates in sustainability programs, the data will provide the insights needed to make informed decisions. Transparency in reporting will forster trust and accountability among citizens, ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to Lagos’ journey toward sustainability. Plus, who doesn’t love a good infographic ?

Conclusion: From Ambition to Action

Lagos has demonstrated remarkable ambition, launching Africa's first domestic carbon market, developing sophisticated climate investment frameworks, and committing $9 billion to resilience infrastructure. The institutional architecture is taking shape, with dedicated climate and resilience offices, strengthened environmental agencies, and growing international partnerships. The next phase requires translating these frameworks into operational reality. This means embedding ESG criteria into budget processes, mandating emissions reporting, scaling circular economy infrastructure, and ensuring that the social dimensions—green jobs, community engagement, equitable access—are not overshadowed by environmental targets.

 

As Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu stated at the 11th Lagos International Climate Change Summit, "Lagos does not wait for the future, Lagos builds it. And that future must be sustainable, inclusive, and ocean-powered". Building that future requires not just visionary statements but the systematic integration of ESG principles into the daily operations of government—turning sustainability from a policy aspiration into a governance reality.

 

Sustainability isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon, and Lagos needs long-term engagement and commitment from all stakeholders. Building a culture of sustainability requires continuous education, persistent advocacy, and unwavering dedication to creating a livable city for generations to come. By learning from global best practices, engaging communities, and committing to long-term strategies, Lagos can navigate its challenges and emerge as a resilient megacity that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens and the environment. The journey towards sustainability is ongoing, and with concerted efforts, Lagos can set a precedent for other cities around the world.

 

‘’CORPORATE CRIMINALITY ’’IN ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: WHEN CITIZENS LACK BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ITS STATE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.

 

“Àìmọ̀ kì í jẹ́ kó mọ̀ pé òun kò mọ̀.” (Ignorance prevents a person from realizing they are ignorant)

It should not be news. It should be ordinary. The fact that it feels extraordinary tells you everything you need to know about Nigeria's environmental governance crisis — and about the peculiar, persistent stupidity of the elite. We now leave in a world where a truly ignorant person lacks self-awareness and justify government action for personal branding. You don’t speak on the issues you lack basic knowledge about. It is Psuudo-intellectual, Dilettante and Ignoramus.

Not a complex regulatory grey area. Not a contested technical compliance standard. Raw sewage—the most elemental, ancient, and universal of environmental offences — reportedly being discharged either directly or through unapproved connections into drainage systems that feed into Lagos's already dangerously compromised waterways should not be in the news nor what some elite will justify the action on lack of central sewage system in the State.

The stupidity is not intellectual. It is moral, institutional, and cultural. Let us be clear about what we mean by stupidity here. We do not mean cognitive failure. The executives, board members, and facility managers of any corporate organization involved in the discharge of raw sewage into public area by any measurable standard are highly educated, internationally exposed, and demonstrably intelligent people who manage complex derivatives portfolios, navigate multi-jurisdiction regulatory frameworks, and can recite Basel III capital adequacy ratios in their sleep.

Globally, 52% of global wastewater is treated in the Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). Israel is the world leader in wastewater treatment. Nearly 90% of wastewater in Israel is treated for reuse, most of it in agricultural irrigation. While Israel reuses almost all of its wastewater, Europe recycles merely 60%. Sewage treatment rates in Africa are generally below 30%, with many low-income countries treating less than 10% of their wastewater. The challenges facing waste water treatment in developing countries is beyond governance structure or lack of regulations. A 2024 research by Environmental System indicates lack of investment, inadequate financing for operation and maintenance, shortages of skilled technical personnel etc has part of the problem facing waste water treatment plant infrastructure in most Africa counties.

So when mega structures are built in Nigeria and other many African countries, it is the responsibilities of the developer to put in place a standard waste water treatment plant that will treat the sewage to allowable discharge standard that meet regulations for public discharge purpose. So when an organization fail to meet this standards. It is simple a violation of the law and not the lack of central sewage system by government of municipalities. For example: A joint venture (Sembcorp Nanjing Suiwu) was fined 10 million yuan for illegal discharge of wastewater, with executives jailed, when a treatment system failed to operate properly. Also, Thames Water (UK) was hit with a record penalty (£122.7m fine (2024) by regulator Ofwat for failing to manage sewage treatment works and sewer networks, resulting in frequent spills. So failure to pretreat your sewage or waste water to required standard before discharge is an environmental offence. No justification. No PR stunt nor lawyers, bloggers or economist becoming environmental justices advocate overnight simply because a corporate organization fails in its ESG mandatory principle.

There is a particular cruelty in the fact that most corporate organization involved in corporate environmental criminality are among the Nigerian organization that have most loudly and publicly positioned themselves as champions of sustainability. Not metaphorical sewage. Not ESG-compliance-gap sewage. Literal, physical, bacterial sewage, apparently being discharged in violation of the very environmental laws that most own sustainability frameworks claim to support. This is not a minor contradiction. It is a structural indictment of the way corporate sustainability is practice in Nigeria — as a communications strategy rather than an operational commitment. ESG in its current Nigerian incarnation is largely a document, a website section, a slide in the investor presentation. It is the language spoken to Bloomberg terminals and international development finance institutions. It is emphatically not a culture that reaches down into the facilities management department of most organization and asks the question: where exactly does our sewage go? The gap between the glossy ESG report and the unlicensed sewage pipe is not simply hypocrisy. It is a systems failure — a failure of internal governance, of facility management accountability, of the kind of routine environmental compliance audit that any institution serious about its own stated values would conduct as a matter of course.

 What the corporate closure demonstrates — and why citizens should be happy about is that environmental enforcement does not have to be a tool used only against those too poor or too powerless to fight back. The law, applied uniformly, is a powerful equaliser. The different write up, opinion and comments on social media by citizens who justify the lack of sewage system in Lagos has a justification for organization to discharge untreated sewage into public drain shows the lack of basic environmental education and knowledge about regulation guiding sewage treatment in Lagos. The Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law of 2017, and the NESREA Act of 2007, are not ambiguous on the question of sewage disposal. They establish clear standards for wastewater treatment, prohibit the discharge of untreated sewage into drainage systems or water bodies, and empower agencies of government to inspect, issue compliance notices, and close down violating premises. The penalties provided under these laws are substantial. Fines can be imposed so also directors and facility managers can, in principle, face personal criminal liability for environmental offences committed by corporate entities.

 So for keypad warriors who wants to justify lack of infrastructure for the basis of their payer’s violation? The law may be unfair and violators end up in prison basically for environmental violation. In practice, penalties have historically been negotiated down, closures have been brief, and prosecutions have been vanishingly rare. This case gives an opportunity not just to fine an institution and reopen its doors — but to establish a precedent: that large-scale violators face large-scale consequences, that remediation orders are enforced, that repeat violations are treated as aggravated offences, and that the personal liability of executives and directors is not merely theoretical.

In going forward, when a corporate organisation commits an offence, the Facility manager responsible for the sewage system and the senior executive with operational oversight responsibility should be named, cautioned, and required to appear before environmental regulators. Corporate accountability without personal accountability is a half-measure that the elite is exceptionally skilled at surviving. The question now is whether every corporate organization will treat this incident as the embarrassment to be managed, or the wake-up call to be heeded. Whether sustainability commitments will be revised from the top of the ESG report down to the basement of facilities management department. Whether every corporate organization that talks about environmental stewardship in its annual report will ensure that the actual physical environment in and around its operations meets the standards it publicly claims to champion. This is same to every corporate headquarters, luxury hotel, shopping mall, and high-rise residential development in Lagos. Lagos action to corporate closure should be a mirror — uncomfortable, clarifying — held up to every facility manager who has taken a shortcut, every compliance officer who has looked the other way, and every executive who has assumed that the rules governing where sewage goes were someone else's problem.

There is a version of Lagos achievable, necessary and urgent in which the law applies equally to every corporate organization and to the roadside food vendor. In which the penalty for polluting the Lagos Lagoon is the same whether the polluter is a factory in Mushin or a glass tower in Marina. In which the elite cannot buy its way out of the basic obligations of urban citizenship. That version of Lagos requires exactly the kind of enforcement action that was taken here — applied consistently, transparently, and without deference to the size of the violator's balance sheet or the length of corporate image.  The closure of a corporate organization for sewage disposal is not, in the end, a story about one organization. It is a stress test of a principle: that environmental law in Lagos means what it says, for everyone, at every address.

The lagoon does not care about your ESG report. It cannot be impressed by your sustainability committee. It is simply a body of water, shared by 23 million people, receiving what is poured into it — and responding, inevitably, with the only answer nature knows: consequence. By fostering a culture of responsibility and sustainable practices, the elite can play a pivotal role in protecting the environment and ensuring the well-being of local communities. Moving forward, it is essential that all stakeholders prioritize environmental stewardship to create a healthier and more sustainable future for all.

For keypad warriors when the law reaches upward instead of downward, when accountability lands not on the roadside hawker or the Agege mechanic, but on the gleaming glass tower of corporate power government should be commended not criticized. Let Lagos breath.

 “Èkó ò gba gbẹ̀gẹ̀.” (Lagos does not tolerate nonsense).

 

 

THE SILENT SHADOW OF NIGERIA'S SOLAR BOOM: MANAGING OFF-GRID RENEWABLE ENERGY WASTE IN LAGOS AND BEYOND.

 

The short lifetime of lead-acid batteries in solar home systems can significantly increase their life-cycle environmental impacts. Studies show that under such conditions, the global warming potential can reach up to 1.4 kg CO₂ per kWh delivered, which may exceed the impacts of diesel generators in several environmental impact categories.

 

The sight is becoming familiar across Lagos—gleaming solar panels perched on rooftops in Lekki, Ikeja, Yaba and other rural communities around Lagos silently powering homes and businesses through the city's notorious grid collapses. From the bustling markets of the mainland to the expanding estates in Victoria Island, solar energy has become the quiet hero of Lagos living. About one-third of Nigerians still lack access to electricity, and for those connected to the grid, frequent blackouts remain a frustrating reality. Access to electricity has long been a symbol of progress and development, and we can’t deny that this development indicator is not waxing strong for Nigeria.  Across Nigeria and other parts of the developing world, off-grid solar technologies have emerged as a beacon of hope, powering millions of homes that national grids cannot reach or have consistently not served. Solar home systems and pico-solar lamps are transforming lives —lighting homes, charging phones, and enabling children to study after sunset.

This solar revolution is real and accelerating. Nigeria's solar capacity reached approximately 385–400 MWp by the end of 2024, placing the nation among the top five solar adopters in Africa. Solar imports soared nearly 94 per cent in 2023 alone. For millions of Lagosians, solar power means children can study after dark, small businesses can stay open longer, and families can escape the choking fumes of generators. But as the sun powers Nigeria's future, a shadow grows in its light. What happens when today's gleaming panels and batteries reach the end of their useful lives? Without urgent action, Lagos could face an environmental crisis that transforms the promise of clean energy into a new form of pollution—one that threatens the health of communities across the city and state.

The Scale of the Coming Challenge

To understand the challenge, consider the numbers. Every solar panel installed today has a lifespan of 20 to 25 years. Every battery—typically three to five years. This means that the explosive growth in solar adoption now guarantees an equally explosive wave of waste, particularly electronic waste, in the decades ahead. Projections are sobering, and solar panel e-waste metrics in Nigeria are expected to surge from 3.3 million kilograms in 2021 to 60.3 million kilograms by 2040. If Nigeria scales solar photovoltaic capacity to 30,000 MW— a plausible target given current growth, over 280 million batteries will be needed over time, each requiring proper disposal. The volume of batteries from the renewable sector alone could hit 200 million tonnes by 2040; these are not abstract figures. In Lagos, where population density is among Africa's highest and land is at a premium, millions of spent batteries and decommissioned panels will need somewhere to go. Without preparation, that "somewhere" could be the city's already overstretched dumpsites, or worse, open spaces, drainage channels, and informal dumpsites in densely populated communities.

The Toxic Reality: What's Inside "Clean" Energy?

When discarded, solar panels and batteries become electronic waste, non-degradable materials that pose serious threats to ecosystems. The most immediate danger comes from batteries. These lead-acid batteries, still widely used in Nigerian solar installations due to their affordability, contain lead—a potent neurotoxin that causes irreversible brain damage and cellular disruption, to name a few. When these batteries are disposed of inappropriately, they can leak into soil and groundwater, and the health impacts are severe. Lead exposure permanently affects children's brain development. Even lithium-ion batteries, increasingly common in newer installations, contain materials that can contaminate soil and water if not handled properly. Unfortunately, when untrained scavengers recover materials from leaking/waste batteries, they risk exposure to toxic contents and contaminate the environment, particularly water and soil. While lead-acid batteries are the most damaging component—occupying 54 - 99% of each environmental impact category in lifecycle assessments—they are not the only concern. Solar home systems contain a variety of materials, including printed circuit boards, plastics, and photovoltaic panels.

The Regulatory Vacuum: Nigeria's Legal Blind Spot

Here is the uncomfortable truth: Nigeria has enthusiastically embraced solar energy without putting in place the legal framework to manage the waste it will create, consider what this means in practice. No law compels a solar company, equipment importer, or system owner to ensure that panels and batteries are properly recycled at end-of-life. No regulations require setting aside funds for future decommissioning. No agency has clear authority to track solar waste or enforce safe disposal. This vacuum matters because solar equipment doesn't simply disappear. Unlike the familiar generators they replace—which at least can be sold for scrap metal—solar panels and modern batteries require specialized recycling processes and without legal requirements, the path with least resistance is dumping.

Lagos at the Frontlines

Lagos finds itself at the epicenter of both the solar boom and the coming waste challenge. As Nigeria's commercial capital and largest city, Lagos accounts for a substantial share of solar installations. The same factors that make solar attractive—unreliable grid power, high fuel costs, and a population willing to invest in alternatives—also concentrate the waste stream. The good news is that Lagos is also where solutions are beginning to emerge.  The Lagos Electricity Law, 2024, aims to,

1.        create a commercially and technically sound Market that is well-funded and financially viable;

2.        facilitate the delivery of affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern public electricity access to consumers in the State;

3.        facilitate investment and innovation within the Market;

4.        incentivise the behaviour of licensees, electricity consumers, investors and other market participants, ensuring the delivery of constant, reliable and cost-efficient electricity supply to consumers in the State; and

5.        promote the provision of off-grid solutions for households, and micro, small and medium-scale enterprises in the State

For us in Lagos, to set a good example in solving problems related to the solar boom, we must put in place a strong regulatory framework. The National Policy for the Management of Used Off-Grid Renewable Energy Equipment (OGREE) is in its final stage. However, the State government can set up guidelines that mandate:

 

1. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Manufacturers and importers should be required to: Take back expired equipment, Finance recycling programs and Establish collection points. This shifts responsibility from communities to producers.

2. Battery Collection & Recycling Systems

The government can mandate a deposit-return system that will encourage: licensing certified recyclers, prohibiting informal battery dismantling, and creating buy-back incentives to ensure an environmentally friendly system for managing battery collection and recycling.

3. Environmental Education and Public Awareness

Environmental education is key to solving new environmental changes. Users must understand that batteries should not be dumped and that the risks of informal dismantling are harmful to health and the environment. Community education is essential.

Conclusion

Off-grid renewable energy is a powerful tool for development and climate mitigation, yet sustainability must extend beyond installation. Managing solar panels, batteries, and electronic components responsibly ensures that clean energy does not create a hidden pollution problem. The alternative is unacceptable: millions of solar devices bringing not just power to homes but also lead poisoning to children, toxic pollution to communities, and environmental damage that undermines the very benefits solar energy promises, just because their waste wasn’t handled appropriately. For Lagos residents—whether you live in Lekki, Ikeja, or the mainland—the message is simple: “Your solar panels and batteries will not last forever. When they fail, how you dispose of them matters.” Where you buy your equipment matters, as does which companies you support.

The goal is power without poison—clean energy that remains clean at every stage of its life. Nigeria has the opportunity to build that future, the foundations are being laid now. As citizens, we have the right to clean energy and clean communities. We have the right to Clean Energy Access without poison. The question is whether we will demand it. The next phase of renewable energy expansion must integrate:

• Lifecycle planning
• Waste management systems
• Regulatory reform
• Private sector accountability

Clean energy must also mean clean disposal.