LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- A viral video showing heaps of refuse in Mushin has triggered a response from Lagos Commissioner Tokunbo Wahab, who accused blogger, Tunde Ednut of sharing old footage that could give a false picture of the area’s current condition.
Wahab, who is the State’s Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, reacted to the video in a post on X on Saturday, insisting that the footage is outdated.
He accused the popular blogger of having a “persistent tendency to portray Nigeria, particularly Lagos State, in a negative light.”
“Dear Tunde @mazitundeednut, We understand your persistent tendency to portray Nigeria, particularly Lagos State, in a negative light, often to the detriment of your audience,” he wrote.
According to the commissioner, the video does not represent the current condition of Mushin because the area has already been cleared.
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Addressing the blogger directly, Wahab urged him to verify information before sharing it with his thousands of followers.
He added that content creators could still attract engagement without spreading information that could mislead their followers.
“You can still generate engagement and earn from your content without inadvertently misleading your followers,” Wahab said.
The commissioner further stated that the location shown in the video “has since been cleared, and LAWMA has continued to sustain its operations in the area.”
He however, acknowledged that Lagos still faces waste management challenges, including what he described as the “unwillingness of some residents and property occupiers to pay for PSP waste collection services.”
Wahab stated that the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), continues to intervene in affected areas despite such challenges.
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“Nevertheless, LAWMA and its teams have consistently intervened in areas where such challenges arise and continue to work towards maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment,” he added.
Wahab also appealed to content creators to check the accuracy and timing of information before publishing it.
“We therefore encourage you to verify your information before publishing, rather than relying on outdated content that could give a misleading impression of the current situation or unnecessarily project Lagos and Nigeria in a negative light,” he advised.
The commissioner concluded by stressing that the government remains open to criticism when it is supported by accurate information.
“Constructive criticism is welcome, but it is most effective when it is based on accurate and verifiable information,” he added.
