The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has honoured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his landmark contributions to environmental sustainability and waste management, describing his legacy as a transformative model that continues to shape national and continental policy.
Speaking at a news conference to commemorate the 2025 World Environment Day, AWAMN National President, Dr. Olugbenga Adebola, announced that the association has conferred on President Tinubu the honorary title of “Generalissimo of the Environment.” The recognition, he said, reflects the president’s visionary leadership, dating back to his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
According to the association, Tinubu’s administration laid the foundation for one of Africa’s most successful public-private partnerships in environmental management—the Private Sector Participation (PSP) model. Implemented during a period when Lagos was considered one of the dirtiest cities globally, the initiative introduced structured house-to-house waste collection across the state. It revolutionized waste management, created jobs, improved public health, and earned both national and international commendation. The Federal Government under the PDP also awarded Lagos twice for its urban transformation and environmental progress.
AWAMN noted that Tinubu’s model has since been adopted by nearly 30 states across Nigeria and studied by delegations from other African countries seeking to replicate its success. The “Lagos Model,” as it became known, has become a benchmark in public sector innovation for urban sanitation and waste management.
“This is not about politics,” said Dr. Adebola. “It’s about measurable performance, credible antecedents, and sustainable impact. As an association, we are proud to highlight one of Nigeria’s most effective environmental reform legacies.”
The association also praised Tinubu’s interventions in environmental infrastructure, particularly his administration’s efforts to tackle ocean surge and coastal erosion through initiatives such as the “Taming the Sea” project. The project protected Victoria Island from encroaching Atlantic waters and laid the groundwork for the Lekki Free Trade Zone—now one of Africa’s largest economic hubs and home to the continent’s biggest oil refinery.
This recognition coincides with the 2025 World Environment Day, themed “End Plastic Pollution,” and reflects growing calls for decisive climate leadership in developing nations. AWAMN said the timing underscores the importance of celebrating bold policy interventions that have real, measurable outcomes.
Dr. Adebola also highlighted President Tinubu’s recent environmental milestones during his first two years in office. These include the Clean Tech Innovation Policy, Sustainable Energy Access Project, Circular Economy Initiatives, the Climate Change Act, Clean Cooking Gas Initiative, and the Green the Sahel Programme.
Other federal achievements cited include the Energy Transition Plan, the Carbon Market Activation Policy, Global Climate Change Investment Fund, Nigeria’s Sovereign Green Bond, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, and the rollout of Climate-Smart Agriculture projects across states.
“These are not just plans on paper,” Dr. Adebola said. “They represent tangible commitments to environmental resilience, economic development, and climate justice.”
The association reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with all levels of government to advance Nigeria’s environmental goals and urged other states to continue drawing lessons from the reforms initiated in Lagos under Tinubu’s leadership.