Environmental Management of Construction and Demolition Waste in Lagos Megacity

This study examines the professional management of construction and demolition waste in Lagos Megacity, South West Nigeria, evaluating current waste generation, disposal practices, regulatory oversight, and the potential for recycling and circular economy approaches in the sector. Construction and demolition activity in Lagos is among the most intense in sub-Saharan Africa, driven by rapid urban densification, infrastructure development, and the ongoing replacement of colonial-era building stock with modern structures. The study employs a sector assessment methodology, combining an estimated waste generation calculation based on construction permit data, interviews with twenty contractors and ten demolition companies, observation of twelve active demolition and construction sites, and review of Lagos State Ministry of Environment and the Lagos Waste Management Authority regulatory documentation for construction waste. Results show that construction and demolition waste is predominantly disposed at unlicensed dump sites at the urban fringe or used as uncontrolled land reclamation fill in wetland areas without environmental assessment. Recycling of concrete rubble, steel reinforcement, and timber is practised informally by small-scale material recovery operators but at scales far below the volume generated. LAWMA does not have a specific construction waste management programme or permit system. No licensed construction waste processing facility exists in Lagos. The study identifies significant opportunities for recycled concrete aggregate and reclaimed brick in Lagos's construction market. Recommendations include a Lagos Construction Waste Management Regulation requiring site-level waste management plans and licensing of waste recovery facilities. Keywords: construction waste, demolition waste, Lagos, circular economy, waste management.