WASTE MANAGEMENT IN A MEGA-CITY - (LEKKI) LAGOS AS A CASE STUDY

In discussing waste management in a mega-city, it will be pertinent to understand what is the simplest definition to waste.

Waste can be described as a material, substance, or by-product eliminated or discarded as no longer useful or required after the completion of a process.

Sources of waste (among others) can be said to be: household, commercial, public and industrial.

Going further, let's get to understand what a mega-city is.

A mega-city is usually defined as a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of ten million people.

From the above definition, we can deduce that Lagos State is a mega-city (as it's among the 37 mega-cities recognized worldwide).

Challenges of a mega-city among many may include:

• ·         Slum proliferation
• ·         High prevalence of crime
• ·         Homelessness
• ·         Traffic congestion
• ·         Air pollution
•       High volume waste production

It is with regret that I write to note that Lagos state which as a mega-city is either oblivious of the fact that it is a mega-city or it lacks the capacity to contain the resultant challenges of a mega-city.

Lagos state in her magnificence is naturally divided into two geomorphological zones. One is the area commonly called the mainland which has a lower ground water level, more stable and compact soil structure. The other area is popularly called the island with a higher table ground water level and with a loose soil structure. This area is generally believed to be the highbrow area of the mega-city due to the presence of multinational firms and very restricted residential clusters.

In recent times, waste management has been a problem in this part of the city. From all the parts of the city, a lot of waste is produced on daily basis but apparently, there is no proper coordinated means of managing and disposing of the said refuse.

Despite high maintenance cost of structures attached to renting bills, service providers and requisite government agencies have failed in their role to contain the high level of waste collection and there is no established disposal means as heaps of refuse can be seen lying all around in all parts of the high-end Lagos Island.

Below, I will be presenting pictorial evidence of some (out of so many) open and unattended refuse dumps along the popular Lekki-Epe expressway and the attendant DISADVANTAGES.

IKATE BUS-STOP

This is a popular high-end area of the Island in which multi-billion Naira properties and companies are situated. Coming from Victoria-Island, you cannot help but notice the quintessential aura enveloping this environment. To the left is located a certain embassy and the right leads you the the famous Lekki beach. This is a major turn off to tourists who hitherto have formed a beautiful picture of Lekki in their minds.

JAKANDE

This is presumably the middle point on the ever busy Lekki-Epe expressway. Waste can be seen sorely littered around on the left side (coming from V/I) of the road. It is close to commercial and residential apartments and disease carrying rodents can be visibly seen running up and down that axis. This raises a question if the outcry for cholera, ebola and lassa fever prevention is not being heard by servicing companies and requisite government agencies? It is a huge slap on the face of the mega-city management for such a brazen display of health unconsciousness.

IGBARA

This is the most funny contraption on the Island. This major unattended refuse dump is surrounded by the newly and beautifully remodeled Jakande roundabout, Shoprite, a major drainage canal, and high-end estates. The aberration here to me is mainly the existence of shoprite, a multi-billion dollar investment from the South-African republic on the Nigerian soil. Just behind this refuse is the foot entrance to the almighty Shoprite and there is no feel of social corporate responsibility to the management of refuse on this axis and the requisite Nigerian agencies to enforce this never give a hoot about that. Can a Nigerian company try this in South-Africa? Hell NO!

They don't even care about the impression they create on their customers because they (shoprite) knows the customers (Nigerians) have no option. What a let down to our collective pride.

OSAPA

I will not say much here but I have to let you know that this area is known as OSAPA LONDON and the house rent here ranges from N500,000 for a decent self-contained apartment to N2,000,000 for a 3 bedroom flat. Extrapolate yourself what a duplex rent will cost. This is an irony of the charges and lifestyle exhibited here and it is very close to the earlier mentioned shoprite.

AGUNGI

AGUNGI

This part of the Island houses numerous number of people. This is evident in the number of vehicles and humans you see walking in and out of the area at any time of the day. It is also a popular bus-stop where passengers stand to pick up public transports. Not only that the refuse which is almost constant here all through the year defaces the bus-stop, it produces a deadly stench which nauseates citizens who use this bus-stop which can lead to other reactionary health conditions. For the fact that this is a densely populated zone and following popular knowledge on criminology, weapons and fire-arms can be hidden in this spots to be used by hoodlums on unsuspecting citizens. 

ILAJE - AJAH

What interests me particularly in the Ilaje-Ajah refuse dump is that it is a major public mass transit point. It is usually flooded when it rains and the refuse mixes with the ground water to bless the feet of the citizens. Another irony of this area is that a new motor bridge was constructed very close to it and throughout the period of the construction, the company never considered the popular item in every Bill of Quantities: "KEEP WORK AREA GOOD". In the construction design, does it mean no arrangement was made for proper waste collection around the new bridge. Cholera, ebola and lassa fever are propagated by rodents which freely caress the environment.

This is a call on estate service providers, companies and requisite government agencies to live up to the task of making our dear Lagos state befit the status of a mega-city which she is.