The Lagos State Government has taken another bold step towards sustainable waste management with the launch of a waste-to-energy biogas plant at the Ikosi Fruit Market in Ketu.
The facility, known as the Ikosi Fruit Market Biodigester Plant, was inaugurated on Monday in partnership with C40 Cities. It is designed to convert organic waste from the market into biogas for cooking and electricity, as well as biofertiliser for agricultural use.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the project as a major milestone not just for the Ikosi community, but for Lagos State as a whole.
According to Wahab, the initiative represents more than the opening of a facility, it reflects a broader vision of how Lagos can turn everyday environmental challenges into practical opportunities that benefit communities.
He explained that organic waste generated daily at the market, such as fruit peels, vegetable remnants and unsold produce, would now be systematically collected and processed in an anaerobic digester. Inside the oxygen-free system, bacteria break down the waste to produce biogas and nutrient-rich fertiliser.
“The project goes far beyond Ikosi. It reflects a much bigger ambition for Lagos State,” Wahab said, noting that the initiative is being implemented under the Climate Action Implementation Programme in partnership with C40 Cities and UK International Development.
He added that the project demonstrates Lagos’ commitment to translating global climate promises into real, community-level action, stressing that while climate change is often discussed at international conferences, Lagos is delivering solutions directly in markets and neighbourhoods.
Wahab also highlighted the environmental benefits of the project, noting that markets like Ikosi generate tonnes of organic waste daily, much of which previously ended up in landfills or open dumps. Such waste, he said, often clogged drainage systems, produced foul odours, posed health risks and released methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
“This project turns a long-standing environmental problem into a practical and sustainable solution,” he said.
On his part, the C40 Cities Regional Director for Africa, Anthony Okoth, praised the completion of the project, stating that the biodigester would treat and convert waste directly at the market.
He disclosed that C40 Cities currently works with 14 African cities, adding that Lagos, the largest among them, continues to play a leading role in tackling sanitation, waste management and climate change challenges on the continent.
The Mayoress of Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, Abolanle Bada, represented by the Vice Chairman, Olayinka Ogunleye, expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and C40 Cities for selecting Ikosi as one of the beneficiaries of the initiative.
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