By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Lagos State Wastewater Management Office (LSWMO) is set to host a two-day technical workshop for sewage treatment plant operators across the state, aimed at strengthening professional capacity in the sewage management sector.
The workshop, themed “Effective Operation of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs),” will hold from Wednesday, 2nd September, to Thursday, 3rd September, 2026, in partnership with the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers (NIEE).
It is designed to tackle the day-to-day operational challenges facing sewage treatment plants and improve their management across Lagos.
Speaking on the maiden edition of the programme, the General Manager of LSWMO, Engr Adefemi Afolabi, described the training as part of the government’s strategic effort to promote safe, efficient and environmentally compliant wastewater management in the state, particularly in residential and commercial facilities where the effective operation of treatment plants is critical to preventing pollution and protecting public health.
He said the programme reflected the agency’s commitment to ensuring that wastewater infrastructure delivers the outcomes for which it was established.
Afolabi noted that effective wastewater management requires more than infrastructure and regulation, stressing that the competence of professionals operating treatment facilities is central to translating those standards into safe and sustainable outcomes.
“The workshop will provide participants with practical knowledge in STP operations and maintenance, wastewater treatment processes, laboratory analysis and determination of effluent parameters, wastewater microbiology and plant optimisation. It will also promote approaches that support energy efficiency, safe sanitation, wastewater reuse and recycling, and the principles of a circular economy,” he said.
He added that the workshop would offer practitioners a platform to share field experiences, examine common operational challenges and explore practical solutions for more efficient wastewater management in Lagos.
“Our commitment to building a technically competent, compliance-driven and sustainability-focused wastewater management system, capable of supporting Lagos’ growing population and protecting its environmental resources, remains unwavering,” he said, adding that the initiative would strengthen the link between regulation, professional competence and operational compliance in support of the state’s broader environmental sustainability objectives.
The training is expected to draw a range of professionals, including STP operators, maintenance officers, plant supervisors, engineers, environmental consultants, quality assurance officers, HSE professionals and facilities managers, providing a common platform for knowledge-sharing and practical solutions to the challenges of wastewater treatment and regulatory compliance.
