LAGOS/Nigeria: The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has called for a major shift in environmental regulation, urging stakeholders to move away from bulky documentation to data-driven, performance-based reporting that enhances compliance, transparency, and access to environmental financing.
The agency’s General Manager, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos during the 2026 annual training for environmental consultants, where he emphasised that the future of environmental governance lies in measurable outcomes rather than volume of reports.
Ajayi stressed the critical role consultants play in regulatory enforcement, describing them as “pillars that hold the monitoring framework in place.”
He noted that government alone cannot effectively address environmental challenges without strong private sector collaboration.
Ajayi observed that the current number of consultants was insufficient to meet the expanding scope of environmental monitoring across the state.
He urged experienced professionals, including retired directors, to transition into consultancy roles to strengthen capacity.
He also emphasised mentorship, encouraging senior practitioners to groom younger professionals to sustain industry growth and expertise.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, Ajayi said the agency has fully digitised its operations, including consultant registration and report submissions through an online portal.
According to him, the system enables performance tracking, report verification and detection of duplicated or substandard submissions using automated tools, warning against copy-and-paste reporting.
He disclosed that Lagos has launched a carbon registry to track emissions and support sustainability reporting across industries.
He noted that the initiative would position companies to access climate finance and sustainability-linked funding.
Ajayi stressed that financial incentives would drive compliance, adding that businesses are more likely to adopt environmental standards when tied to funding opportunities.
He said financial institutions were increasingly prioritising companies that demonstrate measurable sustainability performance.
The agency, he added, plans to introduce performance-based rankings and awards for environmental consultants to promote quality reporting.
In her goodwill message, Prof. Kehinde Olayinka, an expert in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Lagos, urged environmental consultants to move beyond documentation and focus on addressing the root causes of environmental pollution.
Olayinka noted that Nigerian companies expanding internationally now face stricter environmental requirements, including audits and impact assessments, particularly when seeking foreign financing.
According to her, many long-standing companies without prior environmental compliance records are now compelled to meet global standards.
She stressed that environmental practice must go beyond producing reports to integrating sustainability into operations and driving measurable improvements in facilities.
“We need to become change agents,” she said.
Olayinka also called for greater transparency among companies, host communities and regulators, adding that practical, locally relevant solutions would help Nigeria transition towards a more sustainable and healthier environment.
Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Ibrahim Salau, an environmental consultant, underscored the importance of data-driven reporting, noting that access to funding increasingly depends on measurable environmental performance rather than extensive documentation.
He cited instances where companies lost funding opportunities due to lack of verifiable metrics despite submitting detailed reports, while others secured financing quickly with concise, performance-based data.
Salau said the training was designed to equip consultants with the skills to produce reports that support decision-making and attract investment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training was held under the theme, “Beyond Documentation: Integrating Sustainability and Performance Metrics into Environmental Practice.”
