Waste - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Tosin Kolade
Mar, Fri, 2025

NAN, LAWMA partner to deepen waste management advocacy

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By Fabian Ekeruche

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to deepen waste management advocacy.

The NAN delegation, led by Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, Head of Lagos Editorial Operations, was received at the LAWMA headquarters by its Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin.

Omowole expressed gratitude to LAWMA for the efforts made by the authority in the area of waste management in the state.

She noted that NAN’s wide outreach, if leveraged on, could help in deepening the efforts of LAWMA in advocating a cleaner Lagos.

She listed some of the products of NAN, like the PR Wire Service and others that LAWMA could subscribe to in telling the authority’s story.

“The proposed partnership will also include the production of documentaries showcasing LAWMA’s initiatives and successes, further amplifying the agency’s impact and reputation,” Omowole said.

Also speaking, Gbadegesin commended the delegation for the interest in partnering LAWMA for media mileage and visibility.

He said the huge role of the media in driving sensitisation could not be overlooked, as people continued to migrate to Lagos.

He said in spite of LAWMA’s ongoing sensitisation, some residents remained unaware of proper waste mnagement practices.

“Migrants that come into Lagos must be educated on LAWMA’s policies to prevent improper waste disposal. The LAWMA advocacy team has been doing this, to ensure every resident is adequately informed,” Gbadegesin said.

He added that LAWMA would remain committed to transitioning from a linear waste management model to a circular economy model where nothing is wasted.

“We aim to replicate Sweden’s model, where compactor trucks and buses run on biomethane, reducing landfill dependence and enhancing environmental sustainability,” he stated.

Gbadegesin noted that LAWMA’s recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ghanaian firm, Jospong Group, to improve waste management in the state.

He added that the initiative was in line with LAWMA’s broader vision of diverting 90 per cent of waste from dumpsites through innovative recycling and resource recovery strategies.

He also stressed the significance of the Private Sector Participation model, which comprised 428 operators working in partnership with LAWMA to manage the city’s daily waste generation of approximately 13,000 tonnes. (NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Netherlands seeks partnership with Abia Govt. in circular economy

Lydia Beshel
Mar, Thu, 2025

Economy/Business

Netherlands seeks partnership with Abia Govt. in circular economy

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Partnership
By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
The Kingdom of Netherlands says it has strong interest in fostering economic cooperation with Abia Government in the area of waste management to boost circular economy in the state.

The Deputy Consul-General of the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Nigeria, Mr Peter Keulers, said this when he visited Gov. Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia.

Keulers expressed the commitment of the Dutch Government to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and sees the promotion of a circular economy as a vital step toward sustainability.

According to him, circular economy initiatives reduce waste and pollution, ensure efficient resource utilisation, and create economic opportunities, leading to a better quality of life.

He commended Abia for its top ranking in national school examinations, describing human capital as the state’s greatest asset.

He said that a well-educated population provides a solid foundation for economic growth and innovation.

He further highlighted that the Netherlands is actively involved in circular economy projects and interested in working to establish policies that foster business cooperation.

Keulers said that there were about three Dutch companies that had invested in waste-to-energy operations, electronic waste management and offering of training to companies on transitioning from a linear to a circular economy.

He said that the ongoing collaboration with Kaltani Company, a waste management company working with Abia Government, the state had attracted international attention from the Netherlands Government.

He expressed the Netherlands’ interest in learning more about the state’s economic ecosystem and identifying areas for potential collaboration.

He urged the government to explore opportunities where Dutch companies could support local initiatives or gain insights from Nigeria’s experiences in waste management and sustainability.

Keulers said that the visit marked the beginning of a promising relationship aimed at fostering sustainable development and economic growth in the state through circular economy initiatives.

Responding, Otti affirmed his administration’s commitment to environmental sanitation and sustainable waste management, emphasising the transformation Abia had undergone since May 2023.

He said that Abia was once ranked the dirtiest state in Nigeria but had since made significant strides in cleanliness and urban development.

He further revealed that his administration had started working with UN-Habitat to develop a new master plan for Aba and Umuahia, drawing inspiration from the original colonial-era urban planning.

The governor said that with the initial cleanup efforts yielding positive results, the state government was shifting focus to waste conversion and sustainability.

He disclosed that the administration was collaborating with Kaltani Company on a waste-to-wealth initiative that would help transform waste into valuable products.

He further said that the government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the waste-to-energy initiative.

“Our goal is not just to manage our waste efficiently but also get to a point where we can buy waste from neighboring states to sustain our energy and recycling projects.

“There are two ways to manage waste: incineration or landfill disposal. However, neither is a sustainable solution.

“Instead, we are exploring waste-to-energy and other recycling options to create valuable products, while addressing Abia’s energy challenges,” he said.

In an interview with newsmen, the Chief Executive Officer of Kaltani Company, Mr Obi Nnanna, expressed his company’s desire to partner with the government on its waste-to-wealth initiative.

Nnanna also expressed enthusiasm in working with the present administration to achieve its vision for the state.

“We are fully committed to waste collection and recycling efforts, with a focus on job creation and environmental sustainability.

“We intend to galvanise waste, create jobs, and address multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Sam Oditah

Waste: Coca-Cola unveils packaging hub for collection

Ismail Abdulaziz
Feb, Sat, 2025

General News

Waste: Coca-Cola unveils packaging hub for collection

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By Rukayat Moisemhe
The Coca-Cola System in Nigeria, comprising of Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd. and its authorised bottler, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has unveiled a state-of-the-art packaging collection hub in Lagos to tackle waste collection.

During the inauguration on Friday in Lagos, Zoran Bogdanovic, Chief Executive Officer, Coca-Cola said that the facility would reduce waste by collecting and recycling its packaging in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility is a landmark initiative in Nigeria’s plastics recycling infrastructure.

It has the capacity to process up to 13,000 metric tonnes (MT) of plastic bottles annually.

Bogdanovic said that by investing in the hub, the company was supporting local communities, creating jobs and demonstrating its commitment to building a more sustainable future.

He said that the investment underscored its global goal to help reduce packaging waste and emissions.

He said that this could be achieved using 35 per cent to 40 per cent recycled materials in primary packaging of plastic, glass and aluminium.

He added that it would also increase the recycled plastic use to 35 per cent globally.

“We are proud to partner with the Nigerian government in addressing the critical challenge of waste management while fostering economic growth,” he said.

In her remarks, Luisa Ortega, Coca-Cola Company’s Africa Operating Unit President, said that for nearly 75 years, the Coca-Cola System was honoured to be part of communities in Nigeria.

Ortega said that the company would continue to expand its design innovations, explore new collection models and improve existing ones.

She said that the company would invest in local infrastructure like the hub, and engage with communities to help create a better future.

“In addition to supporting the Coca-Cola System’s sustainability initiatives, the hub aims to serve as a comprehensive solution for plastic waste management.

“It seeks to facilitate PET collection, process materials into clean PET bales, and enable recycled polyethylene (rPET) production through third-party partnerships.

“This will help contribute to cleaner communities and driving collective action to help reduce packaging waste.

“The vision is to scale the model once its success is demonstrated,” she said.

The Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, described the launch as a significant step in the country’s commitment to sustainability, economic growth, and environmental responsibility.

Oduwole commended Coca-Cola System for its vision and investment in the project.

She said that the commitment to Nigeria’s economy, environmental sustainability, and community development aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s broader vision for a prosperous and self-sustaining nation.

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said that the new facility was a symbol of progress and a tangible demonstration of the kind of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) needed in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Special Adviser on Circular Economy, Mrs Titilayo Oshodi, said that the NBC had demonstrated its commitment to doing business beyond profit and playing a broader role in society through this project.

He said that the hub would serve as a critical centre for collecting, sorting, and recycling PET plastics, which would significantly reduce plastic pollution in the environment.

Also, Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, described the development as a bold step that would redefine Nigeria’s industrial landscape.

He said that the inaguration meant that manufacturing had met with sustainability and industry, leading to output and impact.

“Establishing this hub by the Coca-Cola System, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company, marks an important moment in our national industrial journey.

“It demonstrates what happens when industries rise beyond profit and embrace responsibility to the environment for job creation,” Enoh said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman