By Eranga Isaac
The forum was hosted by the Sustainable Environment Development Initiative (SEDI) in partnership with the Multi-Solving Action for Methane Reduction in Nigeria (MAMRN). It brought together over 50 key players—including government officials, waste managers, farmers, and informal waste pickers—to bridge the gap between waste management and environmental protection.
The Methane Problem
According to Dr. Tom Aneni, Executive Director of SEDI, the current system is failing both the people and the planet. He highlighted several critical issues:
Organic Overload: Between 50% and 80% of Nigeria’s municipal waste is organic matter.
The Methane Threat: When left to rot in open dumpsites, this waste generates methane—a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates global warming.
Missing Infrastructure: Despite the potential for composting, Nigeria lacks the necessary facilities to turn waste into resources.
Lack of Segregation: Because households don't separate organic waste from plastic or metal at the source, valuable material is lost to pollution.
"Organic waste diversion through composting is one of the fastest and lowest-cost ways to mitigate methane in Nigeria," Dr. Aneni noted. "We have an underutilized opportunity to support soil health and sustainable agriculture."
Innovation and Inclusion
The workshop highlighted emerging technologies like Black Soldier Fly (BSF) processing, which can transform food scraps into high-quality animal feed and bioenergy. Beyond the environment, Dr. Aneni emphasized that "green" waste initiatives are engines for inclusive job creation, particularly for women and youth.
A significant point of discussion was the role of informal waste pickers. Currently sidelined, these workers are essential to the recovery of materials and must be integrated into the formal economy to improve their livelihoods and safety.
The Path Forward: A Call to Action
The stakeholders concluded the forum with a clear mandate for the Nigerian government:
Policy- Legislating mandatiry waste segregation at the source (homes and businesses);
Infrastructure- Build decentralized, community-based composting hub;
Agriculture- Incentivize the use of organic compost in farming and land restoration; and
Climate Strategy- Formally integrate organic waste diversion into the national Methane Reduction Plan.
By moving waste from dumpsites to composting pits, Nigeria can protect public health, rejuvenate its soil, and take a leading role in the global fight against climate change.
