Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic hub, is facing a mounting environmental crisis that threatens public health and the city’s sustainability. On March 23, 2025, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (@GRVlagos), a prominent Lagos politician, took to X to highlight the catastrophic degradation of the Odo Iya Alaro waterway, pointing to systemic failures in waste management that demand immediate intervention. His post, which directly challenges the narrative of progress put forth by the Lagos State Government, has sparked renewed debate about the city’s environmental policies and the health risks faced by its residents.
A Failing System: The Odo Iya Alaro Wastewater Treatment Plant
At the heart of Rhodes-Vivour’s critique is the Odo Iya Alaro Wastewater Treatment Plant, constructed in 2014 at a reported cost of N5.2 billion under the administration of former Governor Raji Fashola. According to a 2024 report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), the plant was designed to treat 25 million liters of wastewater daily, addressing the massive 1.6 billion liters of wastewater generated by Lagos’ estimated 20 million residents. However, Rhodes-Vivour notes that the facility is operating far below acceptable standards, conducting only preliminary treatment before discharging dangerous effluent directly into the Odo Iya Alaro waterway.
The consequences of this failure are dire. Multiple sewage discharge points have been identified along the canal, stretching from Awolowo Road in Ikeja through Maryland to Iddo Terminal. At Iddo, tanker operators openly dump raw sewage into channels that flow directly into the Lagos Lagoon, a critical ecosystem and water source for many communities. Additionally, a centralized sewage treatment plant near Ojota, despite receiving 60% mobilization payment, remains abandoned after multiple false starts, further exacerbating the crisis.
Health and Environmental Impacts
Scientific analysis cited by Rhodes-Vivour paints a grim picture of the waterway’s condition. The water contains alarming levels of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium, as well as dangerous pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. These contaminants pose immediate health risks to surrounding communities, many of whom rely on the lagoon for fishing and other activities. A 2010 study from the University of Lagos, published on ResearchGate, had already warned of the lagoon’s pollution from untreated effluents, noting its impact on local residents who use the water for recreation and food production.
The FIJ report further corroborates these findings with firsthand accounts from residents of Olatunji Street, Kujore, Victoria, and Cele Emmanuel. They report regular illnesses, foul odors, and flooding that brings sewage-laden silt directly into their homes. Ezekiel Adeola, a resident of Olatunji Street, told FIJ, “Raw sewage collectors close to the bridge discharge wastewater into the water, and it comes down here.” The health implications are severe, with waterborne diseases becoming a persistent threat to vulnerable populations.
The Lagos Lagoon, the largest lagoon system in the Gulf of Guinea, is also under threat. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found significant concentrations of heavy metals in fish species from the lagoon, a result of industrial effluents and improper waste discharge. With over 85% of Nigeria’s industries located in the Lagos metropolitan area, an estimated 10,000 cubic meters of industrial effluent are discharged into the lagoon daily, further compounding the pollution crisis.
A Call for Immediate Action
Rhodes-Vivour’s post is not merely a critique but a call to action, offering seven specific interventions to address the crisis:
- Declare an Environmental Emergency: Acknowledge the severity of the situation along the Odo Iya Alaro waterway and surrounding communities.
- Upgrade Treatment Processes: Fund and implement proper primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment processes at the existing plant to meet international standards.
- Dredge the Waterways: Remove accumulated waste sediments and overgrown weeds to restore water flow and reduce contamination.
- Halt Illegal Sewage Discharges: Stop all raw sewage dumping at Iddo, Maryland, and other unauthorized locations, with strict penalties for violators.
- Complete the Ojota Plant: Finish the centralized sewage treatment plant near Ojota with proper oversight and accountability mechanisms.
- Provide Health Assessments: Conduct free health assessments for affected residents in collaboration with local governments, offering treatment for waterborne illnesses.
- Establish a Task Force: Create a dedicated team to enforce wastewater management standards and regularly monitor treatment facilities.
These recommendations aim to address both the immediate public health risks and the long-term environmental damage caused by years of neglect and mismanagement.
A Clash of Narratives: Rhodes-Vivour vs. Tokunbo Wahab
Rhodes-Vivour’s post directly quotes a March 22, 2025, statement by Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab), the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, who claimed, “Lagos is not ‘smelling’; Lagos is evolving—toward sustainable waste processing, modernized landfill management, cleaner waterways, and structured sanitation systems.” Wahab’s post, accompanied by a detailed document, outlined the state’s efforts, including waste-to-energy initiatives, landfill decommissioning, and flood control measures in preparation for above-normal rainfall in 2025. He also noted a 25% reduction in industrial effluent discharge into Lagos waterways over the past two years, as reported by Tribune Online on March 23, 2025.
However, Rhodes-Vivour dismisses this narrative as overly simplistic, accusing Wahab of focusing on “divisive and malicious” social media content rather than addressing the root causes of the environmental crisis. “Beyond the simplistic approach of uploading videos of citizens dumping refuse, improving the environment in Lagos requires deep thinking, well thought out policies, and collective action,” he wrote. His critique resonates with some residents, like Angela Hart (@TheNextAfrican), who replied to Wahab’s post, “Lagos is (slowly) evolving but Lagos IS smelly… I stopped jogging every morning because the smell from the gutters and surrounding areas are overwhelming.”
Public Reaction and Political Undercurrents
The X thread following Rhodes-Vivour’s post reveals a polarized public response. Supporters like @Tomilola303 and @afc_loyal praised his detailed analysis, with the latter calling him “excellency.” Others, such as @yankeebabe4real, took direct aim at Wahab, labeling him a “useless content creator.” However, detractors like @kingkhone4real dismissed Rhodes-Vivour as “Mr. All correct” who will “never near Alausa,” the seat of the Lagos State Government, while @Kanayochukwu91 suggested Wahab knows his audience and is unlikely to heed the critique.
The political undertones are evident. Wahab, who has been in his role since September 2023, has a history of policy innovation, as noted in a May 2024 article by TheCable, which praised his efforts in education and environmental management. However, a 2015 campaign poster shared by @wilsonakubobi, showing Wahab as an APC gubernatorial candidate, hints at his political ambitions, which some users, like @GabrielOny21883, believe make him unresponsive to criticism.
The Path Forward: Collective Action Needed
The environmental crisis along the Odo Iya Alaro waterway is a microcosm of the broader challenges facing Lagos as it grapples with rapid urbanization, industrial growth, and population pressure. While the Lagos State Government has made strides in waste management, as Wahab’s post highlights, the persistent pollution of critical waterways like Odo Iya Alaro and the Lagos Lagoon underscores the need for more robust, transparent, and accountable systems.
Rhodes-Vivour’s recommendations provide a roadmap for immediate action, but their implementation will require political will, collaboration between government and citizens, and a shift away from reactive measures toward sustainable, long-term solutions. As Lagos continues to evolve, the health of its environment—and its people—hangs in the balance. The question remains: will the state government rise to the challenge, or will the city’s waterways continue to bear the brunt of systemic neglect?
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