One Year of Impact: LASEPA GM Reflects on Progress, Challenges, Road Ahead

As the General Manager of Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi celebrated his first year in office, recently, he explained why the agency is committed towards protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable development in Lagos. Funmi Ogundare writes

When Dr. Babatunde Ajayi was appointed the General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) one year ago, the task ahead was daunting: managing the environmental complexities of a megacity like Lagos. From noise pollution in urban centers to the rising concerns of industrial emissions, LASEPA’s role is crucial in balancing growth with environmental sustainability.  

Now, as the GM commemorated his first anniversary in office, stakeholders are taking stock of the progress made so far. In an interview with selected journalists, the GM opened up about the agency’s achievements, ongoing challenges, and the vision for a greener Lagos.  

Its key projects include launching the Lagos Carbon Registry, doubling air quality monitors to 43, and providing mechanised fish kilns to reduce smoke pollution, reduction of noise pollution, among others. The agency has also digitised its processes, secured $6 million in grants, and conducted extensive research on electronic waste and water pollution, among others.

He described the launch of the Lagos Carbon Registry as the biggest and the most important project it had executed as it enabled the state to trade carbon globally.

According to him, “like other cities in the world, it helped us document our carbon footprints. We’re able to tell how much of greenhouse gas emissions we were saving or were emitted. This cut across transport sector, agricultural sector, the industrial sector, as well as home use including generators and cooking emissions.

He stated that efforts were being made to measure emissions from these and ensure proper documentation in the state.

Ajayi added that his agency has also doubled its air quality monitors from 20 to 43, and that before the end of the year, it would have increased it to 60 with verifiable data on it.

He stated the importance of air quality monitors so as to stem health challenges 

” Air quality is important for many things, especially for health. For instance, if you have asthma and you live in an area with bad air quality, that means you are likely to have more health attacks.”

Ajayi said his agency releases air quality data every Monday on its social media platforms informing people what the air quality is like in different areas, either good or bad,adding that it traces the source and resolve the problem.

The LASEPA boss noted that though noise pollution is five cent of its mandate, but it takes 90 per cent of the agency’s time of enforcement , campaign and ensuring compliance.

According to him,” 352 facilities have been shut in the last one year which is more than double the statistics of the previous year.”

Ajayi revealed that religious organisations take a larger chunk of the number of facilities shutdown despite warnings issued to the owners and managers, adding,” enforcement is one very effective and existing way of advocacy. We have also done a lot of advocacy programmes by engaging the public, industries, religious organisations as well as the entertainment industry in particular , where we have the major noise problem.”

Emphasising on the noise pollution and why the agency had to make people pay fines, the GM stated,” Residents are badly behaved in terms of complying with regulations. One major

challenge of noise pollution is that after after enforcement, they comply for a while and before you know it, they go ballistic again and to the same offense. Then we start the process again . Then we start the process again.

“The reason why they comply for a while is because they pay fines and we shut them down. There is no city in the world that dies not leverage fines and penalties for violations. There must be consequences for actions. It is not only Nigeria’s problem, it is global.peopke tend to go back to bad behavior.”

Ajayi expressed concern about the use of microphones especially at bus stops and religious houses in public saying,” even Christians worshippers come out with loud speakers and microphones to preach in public. For noise pollution, they take the highest because there is little or no control in terms of how you can set up religious houses going by our current regulations.

” It takes a strong-willed policy to have that in control. In Nigeria today, some churches want to have two branches on a street.”

The GM noted that the agency has been engaging regularly with representatives of religious houses on the effect of noise pollution and why they need to maintain less than 60 decibels for decorum during their services and the danger they may be posing to the public and themselves.

Over the next one year, Ajayi said LASEPA will be prioritising research having partnered with state and federal-owned universities in the state.

With the partnerships, he said the agency will use the opportunity to develop local skills, adding that it is also working with the ministries of health and transportation to protect the environment.

“LASEPA aims to set standards and lead in environmental protection as we continue to develop and improve our practices,” the GM said, adding that it will also be prioritising training and capacity development of its staff so that they are well grounded and technically capable.