Lagos Moves to Strengthen Sewage Management With Technical Training for Operators

By Peter Emmanuel |

The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) is set to hold a two-day technical workshop aimed at strengthening sewage management and improving the operation of sewage treatment plants across the state.

The workshop, themed “Effective Operation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs),” will bring together sewage treatment plant operators and other professionals involved in wastewater management to address operational challenges and improve treatment processes.

The programme, organised in partnership with the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE), will take place from Wednesday, September 2 to Thursday, September 3, 2026.

The General Manager of LSWMO, Engr. Adefemi Afolabi, said the training is part of the Lagos State Government’s efforts to promote safe, efficient and environmentally compliant wastewater management, particularly in residential and commercial facilities.

Afolabi said strengthening the skills of professionals responsible for operating sewage treatment facilities is essential to ensuring that wastewater infrastructure delivers the environmental and public health benefits for which it was established.

LSWMO, NIEE Partner to Train Sewage Treatment Plant Operators

The technical workshop is being organised by LSWMO in partnership with the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers to improve the professional capacity of sewage treatment plant operators in Lagos.

The two-day programme will provide participants with practical knowledge and skills needed to operate and maintain sewage treatment plants effectively.

Afolabi said the workshop would provide a platform for practitioners to share field experiences, discuss common challenges and identify practical solutions to improve wastewater treatment operations across the state.

He said the programme would bring together STP operators, maintenance officers, plant supervisors, engineers, environmental consultants, quality assurance officers, Health, Safety and Environment professionals and facilities managers.

The participation of professionals from different areas of wastewater management is expected to encourage knowledge sharing and promote better coordination in the operation and maintenance of sewage treatment facilities.

Training Targets Safer, More Efficient Wastewater Management

Afolabi said effective wastewater management requires more than infrastructure and regulations, stressing that the competence of professionals operating treatment facilities is central to achieving safe and sustainable outcomes.

He said the training forms part of the state government’s efforts to ensure that wastewater treatment facilities operate in line with environmental requirements and contribute to the protection of public health.

According to him, properly operated treatment plants are important in residential and commercial facilities, where poor wastewater management can contribute to environmental pollution and other public health risks.

He said the workshop would strengthen the link between regulation, professional competence and operational compliance in the wastewater management sector.

Afolabi added that the state remains committed to building a technically competent and compliance-driven wastewater management system capable of supporting Lagos’ growing population while protecting its environmental resources.

Workshop to Address Operational Challenges, Promote Wastewater Reuse

The workshop will cover sewage treatment plant operations and maintenance, wastewater treatment processes, laboratory analysis and the determination of effluent parameters.

Participants will also receive training on wastewater microbiology and plant optimisation, with emphasis on approaches that can improve the performance and efficiency of treatment facilities.

Other areas to be addressed include energy efficiency, safe sanitation, wastewater reuse and recycling, as well as the principles of a circular economy.

Afolabi said the training would also provide participants with an opportunity to examine operational challenges encountered in the field and develop practical approaches to addressing them.

He said the initiative would contribute to Lagos State’s broader environmental sustainability objectives by improving professional capacity and promoting effective compliance with wastewater management standards.