Stakeholders have advocated climate-friendly environment policies and environmental impact assessment as fundamental pillars in ensuring sustainable development.

They said this at the inauguration of the new state executives of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers in Lagos on Wednesday, themed, “Driving climate-friendly clean energy for sustainable economic growth.”

The Chairman of the Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, Azeez Agoro, explained that engineering has the power to address the greatest challenges of every era, equipping humanity with the measures to enhance the quality of life.

Agoro said, “Environmental engineering practices have never been more critical than they are today. Across the world, climate change, pollution, energy challenges, and waste management remain pressing concerns.

“Here in Lagos, a city with unique environmental dynamics and over 20 million inhabitants, we must take the lead in driving innovative, practical, and sustainable solutions that safeguard our environment for today and future generations.”

He stated that safety and regulatory compliance must be taken seriously, adding that environmental protection is a shared duty among stakeholders – government, industries, communities, and individuals.
“We must work together to champion advocacy and reforms that drive sustainable development. Our collective expertise and dedication will be instrumental in shaping a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable environment in Lagos state,” he added.

A former NIEE president, Yusuf Majolagbe, highlighted the measures to mitigate the effects of climate change in Nigeria.

He urged relevant authorities to prioritise transitioning into a climate-free environment.

He said, “There must be a solid public-private partnership arrangement. As we speak, the Lagos state government is looking at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority is beginning to think about alternative sources of fuel, from wastewater and solid waste.

“All of these things we see as waste, if we begin to put on our circular economy thinking cap, that means that those wastes would not continue to cause global warming in our atmosphere as well as flooding problems. So, we would now convert them to something which is useful, which is biomethane.”



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