Stakeholders Discuss Strategies Aimed At Harnessing The Gold Mine in Waste Management
Unrivalled in socio-economic expansion yet dogged by increased pressure on its physical environment, there is perhaps no better time to put Lagos in the spotlight, as was done at the third edition of the Lagos Waste Forum.
A June 2022 Report by a global business intelligence, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) had ,some days back, said that Lagos, the Nigeria’s commercial capital city was the world’s second least liveable urban area.
It was in recognition of this sobering statistic that the a high level citizen forum, tagged The Lagos Waste Forum convened a meeting of media practitioners, environmentalists, sustainable development advocates, political actors and social crusaders to not only address issues around sustainable waste management practices, but also proffer Ideas on financing for sustainable waste management.
The forum, held at the J.F Ajayi Main Auditorium of the University of Lagos on the 30 the of June, 2022, was an initiative of the Statewide Environmental Education Foundation Project (SWEEP), with support from the Coca Cola Company and the Lagos Waste Management Agency.
Providing a sensitization background, the Vice Chancellor , Lagos State University, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, represented by Prof Kafilayat Yusuf, Director, Centre for Environmental Studies and Sustainable Development, LASU stated that Nigeria, just like other countries, grapples with issues of waste management, most especially in Lagos State.
“Our waste management is beset with various waste issues which result in flooding and outbreaks of epidemics especially during rainy seasons. Efforts to correct this trend has not yielded much result”, she said
With background knowledge on the need for sustainable waste management practices established, the forum progressed to the keynote address by Ola Oresanya, a former Managing Director of Lagos Waste Management Agency and presently the Special Adviser on Environment to the governor of Ogun State.
In his keynote address, Oresanya highlighted a proper value system, proper preparation, right infrastructure as elements to help build a waste financing system that thrives .
“There is the need for us to be able to understand the flow system, predict the flow of waste and prepare for it. We need to know the quantity to come from each individual.
“We need to have the vision, institution, infrastructure and financing to carry out waste management”, he said.
He also harped on the essence of social norms in promoting a value-based waste management system.
“We need to have the right social norms and values which will allow us not to want to live in a dirty environment.
“We need to bridge stakeholders knowledge gap and the audacity to nurture and sustain the paradigm shift.’
Oresanya futher highlighted the availability of funds for financing waste management practices in Nigeria, but added that the present mechanisms to access them have not been fully exploited.
“Nigeria has access to 2billion dollars of green fund. The condition is that we must have reduced our methane emission must have been reduced by 20 percent.
“Obviously, the money is available. We only need the mechanism to access the funds”, he said.
He also advocated the full implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation which will not only reduce indiscriminate waste disposal, but also increase access to funds for recyclers.
“Nigeria has the Extended Producer Responsibility regulations published by NESREA in 2014 which needs to be regulated and implemented.
“It is a finance instrument where the government mandates the manufacturer to take back the packaging from the environment.
The burden of the plastic is the manufacturer’s, not the environment or society. This EPR is also supposed to give economic incentive to recyclers”, he argued.
He then added that with effective coordination by agencies such as the Standards Organization of Nigeria, the Federal Government- and the Customs, the recycling industry can be a ‘game changer’.
In the view of Chief Executive Officer, Sterling Foundation, Mrs. Peju Ibekwe, there is the need for actors in the recycling industry to see it as a proper business in order to make profit for it and ensure sustainability.
“Waste management has to be treated as a proper business”, she said.
“Usually, because many organizations that go into the business are non-profit agencies, they do not care much about balance sheets.
“However, the times are changing as many of these not-for-profit agencies have turned social enterprises because they need to make profit in order to be sustainable.
“In this field, you have to see yourself as a business, creating impact profitably and sustainably.
” This would involve a lot of processes and record keeping from day one. It is a big business dealing with finding a gap.
“If you don’t see it as a business, you might not be around long enough to make impact in your environment”, she said..
Mrs Ibekwe charged Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) to target corporate organizations whose interests align with their areas of intervention in waste management in order to attract funding.
“As a not-for-profit, identify projects that organizations, under their Corporate Social Responsibility, will be willing to fund. Every bank in Nigeria has a specific portion of their budget dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Research to know if they are interested in projects aligned towards environmental sustainability, arrange your balance sheet and apply”, she added.
In her address, the First Lady of Lagos State, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu commended the SWEEP foundation, urging them to expand their initiatives beyond the Surulere axis and into every other areas of Lagos State.
She also reiterated the commitment of the Lagos State Government to promoting sustainable waste management practices all around the state.
In his closing remarks, President and CEO, SWEEP Foundation, Amb. Obuesi Phillips commended the state government and other critical stakeholders for the support and urged every participant to tap into the goldmine that waste management offers in Lagos State and beyond.
Other eminent personalities that graced the event included the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Agency, LAWMA, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni; a representative of the Ooni of Ife, Dr.Kamade Elugbaju (Sooko of Ife); Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof Lucianne Obinna Chukwu; Director, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Coca Cola Company, Mrs Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Chief Executive Officer Macpresse West Africa Limited, Mr. Idowu Salawu.
