The Lagos State Government has announced plans to phase out bakeries that rely on firewood as their primary fuel source, citing serious health, environmental, and climate concerns.
According to Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the government has mapped out a strategy to support bakery owners in transitioning to cleaner energy alternatives.
Ajayi revealed that the state will finance a pilot project to help the first set of firewood bakeries convert to gas-powered ovens, creating a model for others to follow.
He explained that the initiative aims to reduce air pollution, fire hazards, and sanitation risks associated with firewood use.
Enforcement in 2025
Ajayi also provided insight into LASEPA’s enforcement activities in 2025:
- 244 facilities across Lagos were sealed for environmental infractions, with noise pollution topping the list of violations.
- The affected facilities included hotels, markets, eateries, warehouses, churches, mosques, and households.
- Over 200 hospitality facilities were monitored, including supermarkets, nightclubs, and bakeries.
- 180 abatement notices were served to individuals and organisations discharging raw sewage into lagoons or engaging in other forms of land and water pollution.
He noted that enforcement extended to industrial and chemical facilities, with improved monitoring significantly reducing fire outbreaks and chemical spillages.
A joint compliance operation at the Ojota Chemical Market with NESREA and environmental task forces was highlighted as a key intervention.
Beyond enforcement, LASEPA has invested in community projects. Ajayi said the agency installed two smokeless kiln machines at the Ago-Egun Ilaje fishing community in Bariga, designed to improve air quality, protect women’s health, and boost productivity.
On air quality management, LASEPA partnered with local and international institutions to deploy low-cost sensors across Lagos, providing real-time pollution data.
Weekly air quality reports are now released from 114 monitors, with plans to expand to 200 monitors by the end of 2026.
Noise and Recycling Efforts
Ajayi disclosed that religious leaders and nightclub operators signed memoranda of understanding under the Noiseless Lagos advocacy, aimed at curbing excessive noise.
He added that LASEPA registered and accredited 153 e-waste and battery recyclers in 2025 to formalise the recycling sector and prevent unsafe disposal practices.
Working closely with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, LASEPA has intensified water quality testing and sample analysis to detect and prevent cholera and other water-borne diseases early.
Ajayi stressed that the agency’s approach combines enforcement, education, and support, noting: “We are not just shutting down facilities; we are also helping operators comply. That is why we established a compliance desk to assist industries facing environmental regulation challenges and to provide practical solutions.”
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