NIGERIA: WATER AND WASTE-WATER MANAGEMENT,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001761

SIPDIS

STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV SOCI PREL NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WATER AND WASTE-WATER MANAGEMENT,
POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS



1. Summary. The Lagos State Commissioner for the
Environment named solid waste management as the state's most
pressing environmental problem. Lagos, a state of an
estimated 15 million people, produces approximately 10,000
metric tons of solid waste per day with virtually no capacity
for its disposal. The commissioner asked for assistance from
the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to develop more
landfills, automate the clearing of drains, and systematize
solid waste collection. He ranked waste water disposal,
pollution reduction, and sewage treatment as other urgent
priorities. Political maneuvering, particularly as 2007
elections move closer, is likely to affect the state's
ability to reform its waste management systems. End Summary.

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Background
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2. As a result of a USTDA visit to Lagos State earlier this
year, USTDA sent Leo LaRochelle and Charles Peterson,
consultants from Performance Technology, Inc., on a
definitional mission (DM) to identify and recommend
environmental projects for USTDA consideration. During the
week of October 24, the consultants met several NGO
representatives, the CEO of Lagos State Water Corporation
(LSWC),state government officials, the IFC, and Earth Care,
an American company currently working on a solid waste
management project in Lagos State.

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Solid Waste Management Most Pressing Environmental Concern
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3. The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment
attributed most of the state's environmental maladies to poor
solid waste management. The state daily produces 10,000
metric tons of solid waste yet has no waste management
facility. Raw sewage is simply dumped into area creeks and
bays. The commissioner was optimistic about a
"waste-to-wealth" project by an Arkansas firm, Earth Care,
which he claimed would daily convert 2000 metric tons of
solid waste to usable fertilizer. The project is scheduled
to begin production in early 2006. The state will provide
the land and a bank guarantee, and has promised to pay for a
year's worth of product if unsold. (Note. In a separate
meeting, Earth Care said projected production was 1500 metric
tons per day of compost, which is not as nutrient rich as
fertilizer. They also noted that the technology is
relatively new and that projected production was an
optimistic estimate. End Note.)


4. The commissioner complained of a lack of landfill sites.
The state has three, one of which accepts 70 per cent of all
of Lagos's waste but is scheduled to close in five years.
The commissioner told us the state intends to contract with
Alabama's Marathon Equipment Co. to purchase equipment to
operate 3 waste transfer stations, but the state actually
needed six at minimum.


5. Enforcement of environmental regulations and use of
proper dump facilities are also concerns. A representative
from the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA)
said that, currently, it had 380 staff monitoring over 4,000
industrial complexes. Because of an inadequate logistical
infrastructure, LASEPA could not adequately monitor all
facilities. For proper environmental regulation, he said
LASEPA staff needed more vehicular communication equipment.
He also noted a lack of state-wide standards, the absence of
any study of hazardous waste management, and he asked for
assistance in training LASEPA staff.

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Water Production Insufficient to Supply All Users
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6. Olumuyiwa Coker, CEO of LSWC, explained that all areas of
water production in Lagos State were sorely deficient. LSWC
is responsible for approximately 80% of current water
production; however, their delivery covers only about 30-35%
of customers, the rest being served by private vendors whose
water is of dubious quality. For comparison, he provided
figures showing that the U.K.'s Severn Trent water supply
works, serving nearly 9 million customers, comprises 41 water
reservoirs, 188 ground water works, and produces 403 million
gallons per day (MGD). By contrast, while serving an
estimated 15 million customers, Lagos State has 0 reservoirs,
16 functional ground water works, and produces 100 MGD.


7. Coker said LSWC's first priority is water production,
specifically acquiring a reliable power source to drive the
water works. He identified capacity building as the most
productive area for international assistance and asked that
USTDA send experts from the U.S. to train LSWC management.
(Note. Control of waste water management was recently
legislated out of the hands of the Ministry for the
Environment and handed over to Coker's LSWC. The Ministry
refuses to let go easily, and major projects are likely to
get hung up in the jurisdictional dispute. End Note.)

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Consultants Recommend a Common Effluency Treatment Plant
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8. USTDA consultants concluded that Lagos State's needs are
pressing and that USTDA should take a serious look at
assisting Lagos by helping it conduct feasibility studies or
provide for capacity building opportunities. USTDA
representative Pierce Davis is scheduled to visit in early
December to follow up on the DM. The consultants suggested
that a study could be done on one of the more promising
ventures: an industry-led Common Effluency Treatment Plant
(CETP) that would involve a strong private sector component
to pay for transfer of waste water to a common treatment
site. They added, however, that current World Bank (the Bank
is the largest donor in this area) programs in this area are
rehabilitative in nature, involving repairs to pipes and
other similar projects. Thus a project for a totally new
facility would run against the World Bank position to some
degree and may beg the question of sustainability.

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Comment
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9. With people starting to gear up for the 2007 elections,
the mood in the government offices was one of impermanence.
The Commissioner for the Environment repeated he had only a
year left to put important projects into effect. A visit to
the new Commissioner for Budget and Planning yielded the same
impression: the Commissioner referred to disputes with the
President over withholding of excess monies received from
increased world oil prices. When asked about sustainability
of projects, he demurred, mentioning the upcoming elections.
Given the climate, the realities of electoral uncertainties
must be factored into USTDA's assessments of any projects in
Lagos State.
BROWNE