The United Nations has expressed serious concerns about Nigeria’s increasing waste generation, highlighting that much of the waste remains uncollected and litters public spaces and drainages.
This warning was issued by UN-Habitat representative Mercy Achieng Odhiambo during a one-day Waste Wise Cities Tool (WaCT) Training in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The training, organized by the State Ministry of Environment alongside the African Clean Cities Platform, aimed at enhancing municipal solid waste management.
Odhiambo stressed that the uncollected waste poses severe risks to both human and animal health due to harmful chemicals contributing to environmental damage. She noted that inadequate waste management has led to more frequent flooding and sanitation-related diseases, urging all levels of government to address the issue effectively.
The training focused on empowering Environmental Officers with the skills to assess waste generation, identify key stakeholders in the recovery process, and develop data-driven strategies for improved waste management.
UN Technical Support Officer Mr. Akin Tobi highlighted the necessity of accurate data, stating that Ado-Ekiti, alongside two other African cities, recently received support from the African Clean Cities Platform for this initiative.
Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Environment, Mrs. Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, underscored the importance of effective waste management for maintaining a habitable environment. She affirmed the Governor Oyebanji-led administration’s commitment to waste management, noting the placement of Dino bins at strategic locations in Ado-Ekiti to facilitate waste disposal and collection.
