As Lagos State hosts the 19th edition of its annual Walk for Nature this Saturday, the event once again presents an opportunity for nature lovers, policymakers, and residents to renew their commitment to environmental protection and sustainable living.
Holding in the Yaba area of Lagos, this year’s edition will feature campus storms, networking sessions, and celebrity appearances, according to organizers. The Walk for Nature—a joint initiative between the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Lagos State Government—aims to raise public awareness about pressing environmental challenges while promoting collective action toward a cleaner, greener Lagos and a healthier Nigeria.
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Traditionally held every third Saturday of October, this year’s event is slated for November 1 under the theme: “Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution.”
The theme is timely and strategic, considering that plastic pollution remains one of the world’s gravest environmental threats, featuring prominently in global discussions on sustainability.
Experts have long established that plastic pollution is a growing crisis, damaging ecosystems, harming wildlife, and posing serious risks to human health. Plastics persist for hundreds of years, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate food and water sources, leading to ingestion, toxic exposure, and even death among animals.
Each year, the Walk for Nature adopts a new theme reflecting contemporary environmental challenges. The event typically features street awareness campaigns, slogan chants, lectures, and handbill distributions, all aimed at mobilizing Lagosians to take concrete action to protect nature and restore environmental balance.
Progress and Persistent Gaps
According to the Lagos State Government and NCF, the Walk for Nature initiative has yielded positive outcomes over the years. They note that the cityscape now appears tidier, and residents are more environmentally conscious compared to the past, when heaps of refuse, indiscriminate dumping, open defecation, and reckless tree felling were common sights.
Indeed, many Lagosians now bag their waste and place it in designated bins, awaiting pickup by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA)—a practice once considered unusual. Corporate organizations have also joined the movement, setting aside portions of their profits for environmental sustainability projects, tree planting, and community clean-up drives.
At the national level, there are signs of renewed commitment. The Federal Ministry of Environment’s budget grew from ₦46 billion in 2021 to ₦86.44 billion in 2023, signaling stronger political will. States such as Lagos and Abia have also introduced bans on single-use plastics and invested in modern waste-to-energy technologies.
Reality Check: Words Must Match Action
However, while these developments are commendable, there remains a yawning gap between policy promises and visible action. Across Lagos, open defecation, indiscriminate littering, and delayed waste evacuation continue to mar the city’s environmental profile.
“I live on Paul Oke Street in Egan-Igando, and LAWMA trucks rarely come to evacuate our refuse,” said Ruth Kayode, a resident. “They only show up once in a long while, yet we’re levied ₦50,000 for refuse collection. After payment, they disappear again, forcing us to pay cart pushers to remove our waste. This is unfair.”
Such complaints are common across the state, including areas like Mazamaza and Amuwo-Odofin, where shops and residential buildings have been sealed over unpaid refuse levies.
Despite increased enforcement efforts, heaps of garbage still litter areas such as Ikorodu, Mushin, Oshodi, Surulere, Egbeda, Apapa, Mile 2, Iyana-Iba, and Abule Egba, among others—posing public health risks and environmental hazards.
With an estimated 21 million residents, Lagos generates over 13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, according to LAWMA. Yet, capacity limitations mean much of it remains uncollected, ending up in drains and illegal dumpsites.
LAWMA’s Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri, recently noted that the agency is intensifying monitoring and enforcement across the state, working closely with PSP operators to realign collection routes and ensure consistent waste collection. But residents insist that enforcement must go hand in hand with efficiency.
Aligning with Global Environmental Goals
Speaking at last year’s event, the Chairman of the National Executive Council of NCF, Justice Bukunola Adebiyi (rtd), described the Walk for Nature as “an opportunity for citizens to unite in defence of nature.” She called for stronger alignment with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) agenda, urging everyone to “take action for nature—plant trees, reduce plastic use, and tackle climate change.”
Her words remain relevant today, as plastic pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change continue to threaten human survival.
The Way Forward
For the Walk for Nature to achieve deeper impact, both government and residents must translate environmental slogans into concrete action. Environmental protection cannot thrive on awareness alone; it requires functional systems, adequate infrastructure, and sustained behavioral change.
Authorities must prioritize timely waste evacuation, expand public toilet facilities in business districts to curb open defecation, and intensify enforcement—not merely for revenue generation, but for true environmental sanity.
At the same time, citizens must play their part by properly disposing of waste, reducing plastic use, and supporting recycling initiatives. Without this shared responsibility, the annual Walk for Nature will remain symbolic rather than transformative.
As environmentalists often remind us:
“There is only one Earth.”
Protecting it is not an act of charity—it is an act of survival. For Lagos to remain the vibrant economic and cultural hub of West Africa, its people and leaders must now match words with sustained action.
Written by Innocent Onoh -Senior Environment Correspondent
