By Justina Auta
Stakeholders in the environment sector have called on Nigerian youths to explore economic opportunities in plastic waste management as part of efforts to address environmental degradation and promote a circular economy.
The call was made during a tour of the Gosa Dumpsite in Idu Industrial layout and the Chanja Datti Recycling Plant in Giri, Abuja, organised by Digital Peers International (DPI) on Wednesday in Abuja.
The initiative is under the DPI–SGP 2.0 Project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme–Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (UNDP-GEF SGP).
Dr Ibironke Olubamise, the National Coordinator of UNDP-GEF SGP, said plastic pollution remained a major global environmental challenge with significant impact on health and in communities across Nigeria.
Olubamise said the Global Environment Facility (GEF), as the world’s largest funder of environmental programmes, continued to support innovative interventions aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable environmental management.
She said observations from ongoing interventions indicated a reduction in the volume of waste, particularly plastic, being transported to dumpsites over the past three to four years.
She described it as evidence that sensitisation campaigns and project activities were yielding results.
According to her, plastic pollution affects everyone and requires collective action, adding that the environment has no boundaries.
“The Phase 2.0 project we are supporting focuses on innovative ideas, particularly upstream solutions that provide alternatives to plastic.
“The goal is to reduce plastic production at the source by promoting alternatives made from leaves, trees, and other natural materials.
“These alternatives are biodegradable and easier to manage than plastics, which can remain in the environment for many years.”
Olubamise said stakeholders had also identified significant economic opportunities in the sector, including the production of paving stones, recyclable products, jewellery, chairs and tables from plastic waste, adding that such innovations could thrive if properly developed.
She, however, expressed concern over health risks associated with dumpsite expansion, noting that residential buildings were increasingly springing up around designated waste areas, despite environmental warnings.
She also raised concern over the wellbeing of informal waste pickers, stressing the need for continuous capacity building, awareness creation and provision of protective equipment to safeguard their health.
In his remarks, Buka Muhammed, Supervisor of Gosa Dumpsite, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) said the facility had undergone phased development over the years through partnerships and infrastructure expansion.
Muhammed said the dumpsite, which covers about 90 hectares, was originally designed as an integrated waste management facility, with plans for future expansion into energy recovery and healthcare waste management.
He said waste inflow had reduced compared to previous years, attributing the trend to ongoing environmental interventions and waste reduction programmes.
According to him, thousands of informal workers engage in recycling activities at the site, especially during peak hours when waste trucks arrive from the city.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of DPI, Dr Ibukun Odusote, said the tour was aimed at exposing participants to major waste facilities in the FCT to better understand waste composition, management systems and emerging opportunities.
Odusote said while plastic waste remained dominant, there had been a noticeable decline in its volume, adding that awareness campaigns were beginning to yield results and encouraged new waste-based enterprises.
“We have been carrying out sensitisation and awareness campaigns across communities, and we are beginning to see businesses emerging from these efforts.
“We wanted the young people to come here and see that, beyond plastic waste, much of the waste generated is organic. We want them to think about what can be made from this organic waste and the opportunities it presents,” she said.
She urged young people to identify and harness opportunities in waste-to-energy and recycling innovations, noting that government and development partners were increasingly open to supporting viable ideas.
Odusote emphasised the need of data management in the sector, describing it as critical to effective planning and policy implementation in waste management.
On his part, Abdullahi Suleiman-Ezhin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Triple R Recycling Limited, said his initiative was driven by personal experience of flooding caused by blocked drainage systems filled with plastic waste.
Suleiman-Ezhin said his company now converted plastic waste into interlocking paving stones and other products, while also creating incentives for residents to actively participate in waste collection.
He called for stronger government support to scale up recycling innovations, noting that such interventions could help address both environmental and infrastructure challenges in Nigeria.
Other stakeholders, including innovators and youth-focused organisations, also highlighted the role of behavioural change tools such as digital applications in promoting proper waste management habits among children and young people.
They called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, development partners and private sector actors to reduce plastic pollution, unlock economic opportunities, and protect public health across communities.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
