The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has called for a transition from bulky environmental documentation to data-driven, performance-based reporting to enhance compliance, transparency and access to environmental financing.
General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, made the call during the 2026 annual training for environmental consultants on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Lagos.
Ajayi stressed the critical role consultants play in regulatory enforcement.
Ajayi described environmental consultants 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 environmental 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.
Olayinka 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.
She called for greater transparency among companies, host communities and regulators.
She added that adopting practical, locally relevant solutions would help Nigeria transition towards a more sustainable and healthier environment.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Mr. Ibrahim Salau, an environmental consultant, underscored the importance of data in environmental reports.
Salau contrasted reporting, citing cases where companies lost funding due to lack of measurable environmental metrics despite submitting detailed reports with firms that secured funding quickly by presenting concise, data-driven performance indicators.
He noted that the difference lied in clear, traceable metrics rather than the volume of documentation.
Salau said the training aims to equip consultants with the skills to produce reports that support decision-making and attract investment.
The theme of the training is “Beyond Documentation: Integrating Sustainability and Performance Metrics into Environmental Practice.”
By Fabian Ekeruche