Lagos’ coastline has long been a hub of leisure, culture, and commerce. Beaches such as Elegushi, Oniru, Alpha, and Eleko draw thousands of visitors each week. Yet behind the lively atmosphere lies a growing environmental crisis: plastic pollution. What should be spaces of recreation are steadily transforming into repositories of waste.
A Growing Crisis
Scientific studies confirm that plastic has become the dominant form of waste along Lagos beaches. Research published in The Conversation revealed the presence of microplastics: tiny fragments less than five millimetres in size are embedded in beach sediments across multiple sites. Lead researcher Dr. Olusola Oluyemi warned that these plastics “are not only persistent in the environment but also pose a threat to food security and human health, as they are capable of entering the food chain through seafood consumption.”
Local surveys deepen this concern. A study of two waterfront communities, Makoko and Ilaje, found that plastics make up the overwhelming majority of debris. Researchers noted that “nylon accounted for about 48 per cent of waste in Makoko, while PET bottles dominated Ilaje at 60 per cent,” painting a troubling picture of widespread dependence on single-use plastics. Another assessment along the southwest coastline estimated debris densities at over 2,000 items per square metre, with plastics as the most common type.
Impacts on Ecosystems and People
The effects of plastic waste are not confined to the shoreline. Marine life is particularly vulnerable, with fish, turtles, and seabirds mistaking plastics for food. As one Punch report highlighted, it warned that “plastic waste is killing our marine life slowly, and the damage may soon be irreversible if urgent action is not taken.”
For humans, the consequences are indirect but serious. Microplastics can absorb toxic chemicals and enter the food chain. Economically, pollution reduces the appeal of Lagos beaches as tourist destinations, with visible litter discouraging visitors. Local fishermen also report lower catches.
Why It Persists
The roots of the problem lie in weak waste management systems. Lagos produces thousands of tonnes of waste daily, much of which is not collected or recycled. During heavy rains, stormwater carries litter into drains and rivers that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Once in the water, plastics degrade into fragments. “We are building our beaches out of waste, bit by bit,” noted an environmental analysis by the Heinrich Böll Stiftung, pointing to the slow but steady accumulation of plastics in coastal sediments.
Efforts at Cleanup
Despite the challenges, several initiatives are making progress. In 2023, the campaign Rite on the Beach announced that it had collected over 100,000 plastic bottles from Lagos shorelines. Community cleanups in Makoko and Ilaje have also combined waste collection with awareness drives. At a waterfront cleanup sponsored by the Green Earth Action Foundation, organisers emphasised that “protecting the lagoon is protecting our way of life.”
The Lagos State government has acknowledged the severity of the issue. On World Oceans Day, the Commissioner for Environment decried the “negligence of waterways” and stressed the need for stricter enforcement of waste regulations. Still, critics argue that bans on single-use plastics have not been consistently implemented.
The Road Ahead
Plastic pollution on Lagos beaches is not simply an environmental challenge; it is a test of governance and community responsibility. Cleanups and advocacy are important first steps, but lasting progress will require a more integrated strategy: stricter regulation of single-use plastics, investment in recycling facilities, and public education on waste reduction.
The coastlines of Lagos are valuable assets for tourism, culture, and livelihood. Protecting them should not be optional as it is essential for the city’s long-term sustainability. The question is whether we will listen and act, or ignore the warning until it is too late.
References
- The Conversation: Lagos beaches have a microplastic pollution problem
- Heinrich Böll Stiftung: Microplastics building up on Lagos beaches
- Open Journals Nigeria: Assessment of Plastic Pollution in Lagos Coastal Sites
- Punch: Plastic waste threatens marine life on Lagos beaches
- Guardian Nigeria: 100,000 plastic bottles cleared from Lagos shore
