Lagos Urban Development Initiative

“Every second counts”

What exactly is a “wetlandfill,” and what does it mean to live on one?

Last Thursday, we joined add.apt* and members of the Bariga community for a workshop that introduced us to the concept of wetlandfills and opened up a conversation about what living on these spaces looks like in practice.

We explored how these environments are formed, the ways waste and water shape them, and the everyday realities of living within them. Most importantly, we listened to the experiences and knowledge of community members who navigate these conditions every day.

The workshop is part of an ongoing process to develop a guideline for living on a wetlandfill, one that reflects both the environmental realities of these spaces and the lived experiences of the people who call them home.

There is still much to learn, and we’re glad to be learning it together. 💛

With support from Heinrich Boell Foundation Abuja
Photo credit: add.apt*

CommunityKnowledge EnvironmentalJustice

Sometimes charity is just a Trojan horse used to export the burden of waste from one corner of the world to another.

Where does fish come from? 👀

A conversation about waste is also a conversation about the places we live.

Last month, the Women’s Leadership Network came together to talk honestly about waste and its impact on their communities. We carried that conversation forward to Ifesowapo Community, Bariga, where we joined add.apt for a workshop exploring drainage challenges and possible solutions with community members.

It was an opportunity to listen, exchange ideas and begin imagining what environmental solutions can look like when they are shaped together with the people who experience these challenges every day.

Thank you to Heinrich Böll Foundation for making this collaboration possible 💛

Do plastics go away?

One man’s trash, another man’s firewood.

Every day, Lagos generates several tonnes of plastic waste, much of it made up of single-use plastics that are never formally recycled. With plastic readily available and cleaner fuels often unaffordable, some people resort to burning plastic waste for energy. But this comes at a significant cost. Open burning releases toxic pollutants into the air, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, contaminates our soil and water, and harms wildlife and ecosystems.

This is more than a waste problem, it’s a public health and environmental challenge. Affordable energy and better waste management are public health solutions. What changes do you think would make the biggest difference?

Greening Lagos is an initiative that addresses the critical shortage of green spaces in Lagos, transforming communities through practical, sustainable, and scalable greening solutions. We’re making good progress!

We all move through the city differently but a city works best when everyone can move through it safely and comfortably.

Children, adults, people with disabilities, cyclists, pedestrians, public transport users, and not just cars.

Who or what are our streets currently designed for?