By [Oladipo Oluwatosin]
When the Lagos State Government announced its ban on Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), many wondered whether it would ever move beyond policy into practical enforcement. But under the firm leadership of Bar. Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Lagos has transitioned from mere talk to visible environmental action.
Recently, enforcement officers sealed The Place Restaurant, Akowonjo, and Cravings Eatery and Supermarket, Egbeda-Akowonjo for non-compliance with the ban; a move that signaled Wahab’s no-nonsense approach to environmental laws. To him, the law is not just a set of rules, but a living instrument for transformation and order.
The Man Behind the Mission
Bar. Tokunbo Wahab, a lawyer by profession and a visionary public administrator, is not new to the rigor of law and governance. His background as a legal practitioner has become a defining strength in his current role, enabling him to approach environmental reform with a mix of legal precision, policy foresight, and administrative discipline.
Wahab’s legal mind influences his leadership pattern; structured, evidence-based, and grounded in justice. He often emphasizes that “laws without enforcement are mere suggestions,” a belief that drives his relentless pursuit of compliance across Lagos.
Environmental Sanity Through Law and Order
Since assuming office, Wahab has redefined environmental governance in Lagos. His administration has taken bold steps that many considered overdue, including:
1. Ban and Enforcement of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs): Lagos, under his watch, began one of the most ambitious anti-plastic campaigns in Nigeria. Beyond public awareness, Wahab directed strict enforcement; sealing businesses, sanctioning offenders, and encouraging alternatives like biodegradable packaging.
2. Reactivation of Drainage Maintenance and Flood Control: Recognizing that blocked drainages were the root of perennial flooding, he reinvigorated the Lagos Drain Ducks initiative, ensuring regular clearing of canals, waterways, and flood-prone zones.
3. Waste Management Overhaul: Working closely with LAWMA and LASEPA, Wahab strengthened waste collection systems, improved waste sorting at the household level, and began the revival of recycling programs across communities.
4. Green Lagos Initiative: His “Cleaner, Greener Lagos” campaign promotes tree planting, reduction of carbon emissions, and restoration of public parks, transforming the city’s landscape from concrete dominance to eco-friendliness.
5. Environmental Court System Activation:
With his legal expertise, Wahab advocated for specialized environmental courts to ensure swift prosecution of offenders; a move that reflects his belief in institutional sustainability over rhetoric.
Philosophy: Sanity, Structure, and Sustainability
Bar. Wahab’s philosophy of governance rests on three pillars; Sanity, Structure, and Sustainability.
- Sanity, to restore order and discipline in how Lagosians treat their environment.
- Structure, to ensure systems work beyond personalities.
- Sustainability, to guarantee that today’s reforms outlive his tenure.
He is often quoted saying:
“Environmental responsibility is not optional. It’s a shared duty; from the government that enforces to the citizens who comply.”
His approach has moved Lagosians from passive observers to active participants in environmental cleanliness. From markets in Mushin to the business corridors of Lekki, there is growing awareness that the environment is everyone’s business.
Leadership Pattern: Discipline with Human Face
Unlike some technocrats who govern from the office, Wahab is a field leader. He is regularly seen inspecting drainages, visiting markets, or leading cleanup exercises with community stakeholders. His leadership style is participatory, data-driven, and people-centered; balancing enforcement with education.
He believes that “change must be both top-down and bottom-up”, and this has shaped his ministry’s engagement strategy; using social media, town hall meetings, and partnerships with schools, NGOs, and faith-based organizations to promote environmental literacy.
Law as a Tool for Transformation
Bar. Wahab’s training as a lawyer has shaped his problem-solving mindset. He approaches environmental challenges like a case brief — identifying issues, interpreting laws, applying solutions, and enforcing outcomes. This analytical method ensures that every policy or enforcement drive is backed by legal justification and public interest.
Under his guidance, the Ministry has adopted clearer environmental compliance frameworks, ensuring that violators not only face penalties but are also educated on preventive measures.
Impact and Legacy in Progress
The results of Wahab’s environmental transformation are already visible:
Flooded zones in parts of Surulere, Ikeja, and Victoria Island are being reclaimed.
Cleaner streets and improved waste evacuation times are becoming more consistent.
Businesses are gradually adopting eco-friendly alternatives to plastics.
Public awareness on climate change and sanitation has reached an unprecedented level.
For many Lagosians, the ministry has become a symbol of environmental discipline, and Bar. Wahab stands as its face; firm yet fair, legal-minded yet empathetic.
Conclusion: A Lawyer’s Green Revolution
Bar. Tokunbo Wahab’s tenure reminds Lagosians that law and leadership can coexist with compassion and purpose. He represents a generation of public officials proving that transformation does not require new laws — only the courage to enforce existing ones with vision and integrity.
In a state as dynamic as Lagos, his mission is clear: to ensure that the environment becomes not just clean, but consciously protected.
As he often declares:
“Protecting our environment is protecting our future. Lagos must lead — not in pollution, but in sustainability.”
