In a timely effort of community-led action, the waterfront settlement of Makoko in Lagos Nigeria witnessed a transformative cleanup of waste in Makoko on the 29th of April 2025. The project, sponsored by the Green Earth Action Foundation to commemorate Green Earth Action Day in Lagos, was led by Eniola Omotoye, Ambassador of Green Earth Action Foundation (GEAF) and Life in my Hands Initiative (LIMH). Volunteers were empowered to clean over 1,500 kilograms of plastic and other waste materials from the areas’ polluted water side.
The climate action supported by LAWMA, Nature Lead, Ocean Uprise, and the backing of local families, was more than a sanitation drive — it was a call for environmental justice and grassroots resilience. Residents, both young and old worked side by side, reclaiming their community’s dignity and raising awareness about pollution’s effect on their ecosystem and livelihood.
Makoko, often seen as an informal settlement on the margins of Lagos, took the center stage in Nigeria’s climate narrative as children were educated on the value of environmental stewardship, homes were engaged with sustainability knowledge, and the long-neglected shoreline began to shine with renewed hope. The Organizers pointed out that the campaign wasn’t about visibility for NGOs, but about empowering the very people who bear the effect of environmental degradation.
As Nigeria continues to deal with changing weather patterns and climate vulnerability, this initiative in Makoko’s stands as a reminder that true sustainability is people-centered. In communities where the water meets the willing, change isn’t coming — it’s already there.
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