LASEPA secures $225,000 grant to curb cholera risk in Lagos
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has secured an intervention grant of $225,000 from the Government of Japan through a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during the ongoing 2025 ministerial briefing marking the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Wahab explained that the partnership aims to build the capacity of informal food and water vendors, as well as waste workers in flood-affected areas of Lagos, to prevent a cholera outbreak.
“As part of efforts to tackle the improper management and disposal of used cooking oil, which poses significant threats to public health, energy, and the environment, LASEPA partnered with Ororo Waste Management Company Limited during the year under review to promote the recycling of used cooking oil for wealth creation, environmental sustainability, and public health safety,” Wahab stated.
He added that the agency monitored 140 hospitality facilities, including supermarkets, nightclubs, and bakeries, to ensure compliance with the state’s environmental laws. Additionally, 160 abatement notices were issued to individuals and organizations found guilty of discharging raw sewage into the lagoon and engaging in other forms of water and land pollution.
Wahab noted that through effective monitoring, LASEPA ensured that regulatory standards and best practices were strictly implemented in manufacturing facilities and chemical warehouses across the state, leading to a reduction in fire outbreaks and chemical spillages, particularly in chemical markets.
He further revealed that the General Manager of LASEPA led a joint monitoring and abatement exercise at the Ojota Chemical Market, in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Taskforce on Environmental Protection. The unscheduled visit was aimed at enforcing compliance with safety regulations, issuing warnings for non-compliance, and establishing a chemical registry for various markets.
