The Lagos State Government has called on the Federal Government to collaborate with it and its agencies in strengthening regulations and enforcement measures against industrial pollution. Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), made this appeal during the grand finale of the 2026 Inter-tertiary Institutions’ Environmental Summit 2 Debate Competition, held yesterday. The event, themed “Combating Transboundary Pollution in Lagos State: A city-level intervention or a national effort,” aimed to raise awareness among young minds.
Ajayi emphasized the need for the Federal Government to tighten regulations and enforcement across the South-West region and Nigeria as a whole. “We know it is a difficult job, but it needs to partner more with states to tighten regulations, particularly for industrial pollution,” he stated. He explained that the debate was part of LASEPA’s advocacy efforts targeting university communities and young students. The theme was inspired by a recent pollution incident at the border of Lagos and Ogun states.
“We thought it was important that we start this conversation at the tertiary institutions level because globally, sound ideas and innovation start in universities. We think that the brightest minds are in these institutions,” Ajayi added. Since the pollution incident, Lagos has improved monitoring and implemented early warning and alarm systems, which have significantly enhanced oversight activities, particularly around industries along the border corridor.
Olakunle Akodu, Special Adviser on Environment to the Governor, commended LASEPA for organizing the debate, which demonstrates the agency’s commitment to nurturing an environmentally conscious, innovative, and solution-driven generation. “Let me therefore commend LASEPA for consistently placing youths at the heart of its environmental advocacy programmes. Such initiatives are essential to achieving the vision of a greener, cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos under the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu,” he said.
Akodu noted that health and environment constitute a critical pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S+ development agenda of Sanwo-Olu’s administration. He urged LASEPA to sustain its efforts in implementing government policies and programmes aimed at environmental protection, pollution control, and ecosystem preservation.
Over 300 students participated in the debate, with six shortlisted for the grand finale. Fajana Mary, a 300-level Mass Communication student at Lagos State University (LASU), emerged as the winner. Yakub Abdulah Eniola and Daniel Oluwatise Akinkuowo, both from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), secured second and third places, respectively.
