Can Lagos build a global brand amid mounting waste?

Lagos is a city of paradoxes. Though Nigeria’s smallest state by landmass, it boasts the nation’s largest economy and serves as the commercial and financial hub of West Africa.

Home to over 23 million people, with its population expected to grow significantly in the coming decades, Lagos continues to attract investors, entrepreneurs and tourists.

Successive administrations have promoted inspiring visions such as “Centre of Excellence,” “Eko Oni Baje,” and “State of Aquatic Splendour.” The city has also strengthened its global profile through initiatives like the Lagos City Marathon, the GTCO Food and Drink Festival, its vibrant fintech ecosystem and major infrastructure projects.

Yet, a global brand must be built on more than slogans and events. Rapid population growth has placed enormous pressure on roads, housing, drainage and, most importantly, waste management.

Despite the efforts of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators, overflowing refuse bins, illegal dumpsites and blocked drainage channels remain common across many parts of the city.

These conditions may undermine Lagos’ ambition to build a world-class brand and become a preferred destination for tourism and innovation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu deserves credit for ongoing infrastructure and urban renewal projects, but the scale of Lagos’ environmental challenge demands even bolder investments and more innovative solutions.

To build a truly global city, Lagos must modernise waste management through recycling and waste-to-energy facilities, intensify environmental education, enforce sanitation laws fairly and consistently, and encourage greater public participation. The experience of Singapore under Lee Kuan Yew demonstrates that cleanliness, discipline and effective institutions are powerful drivers of economic growth and global reputation.

Lagos possesses all the ingredients of a world-class city—economic strength, innovation, culture and resilience. What remains is ensuring that its physical environment reflects these strengths.

A cleaner Lagos is not only an environmental goal; it is an economic necessity, a tourism strategy and a vital step towards building a globally respected brand. Eko Oni Baje.

Michael Umogun is Director, Business Development, The Insight Place Nigeria