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.
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.