- The Lagos State government launches Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester Plant in partnership with C40 Cities
- The facility converts organic waste into biogas for cooking, electricity, and fertilizer
- The project aims to tackles market waste, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and promotes circular economy
The Lagos State Government (LASG), in collaboration with C40 Cities, on Monday, February 9, inaugurated the Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester Plant, a waste-to-energy facility aimed at converting organic waste into biogas for cooking, electricity, and fertilizer production.
The facility, situated at the Ketu Fruit Market, is part of Lagos State’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable waste management and curb greenhouse gas emissions through circular economy solutions.
At the event, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the project as a milestone not only for the Ikosi community but for Lagos State as a whole.
Speaking on the significance of the plant, Wahab said, “The project was not just the inauguration of a facility but the unveiling of a vision on how Lagos could turn everyday challenges into powerful opportunities.”
He explained that the plant would systematically collect organic waste produced daily by the market and feed it into an anaerobic digester. Inside the digester, bacteria break down the waste in a controlled, oxygen-free environment to generate biogas and biofertilizer.
Wahab further noted, “The project goes far beyond Ikosi. It reflects a much bigger ambition for Lagos State. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with C40 Cities and UK International Development under the Climate Action Implementation Programme. Through this collaboration, Lagos continues to show leadership by translating international climate commitments into practical, community-level action.”
He highlighted that markets like Ikosi produce tonnes of organic waste daily, including fruit peels, vegetable trimmings, and unsold produce. Traditionally, much of this waste ended up in landfills or open dumps, clogging drains, creating foul odors, posing health risks, and releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Wahab emphasized that the project had turned a longstanding environmental challenge into a practical solution.
“While the world debated climate change in conference halls, Lagos was implementing real solutions in markets and neighbourhoods,” Wahab added.
Anthony Okoth, C40 Cities Regional Director for Africa, expressed gratitude for the project’s completion, noting that the biodigester would treat and convert waste directly at the market.
He said, “C40 Cities collaborates with 14 other countries across Africa, and Lagos is the largest of these cities. This collaboration is addressing sanitation, waste management, and climate change issues.”
Representing the Mayoress of Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Abolanle Bada, Vice Chairman Olayinka Ogunleye commended LASG and C40 Cities for selecting Ikosi as a beneficiary of the initiative.
AfDB approves $500m loan to boost electricity access in Nigeria
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group had approved a $500 million loan to Nigeria to finance the first phase of the Economic Governance and Energy Transition Support Programme (EGET-SP).
According to a statement by the group on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the programme aimed to accelerate the transformation of the country’s electricity infrastructure and improve access to cleaner sources of energy.