Abuja, the federal capital of Nigeria, is now home to a waste recycling center. Built in the Nyanya area, the facility was inaugurated on August 20, 2020 by Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Minister of Territorial Administration of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria.
The waste that will be recycled in the new Abuja center will be collected from the population. According to the local authorities, everyone will be paid according to the amount of waste they provide. No details have been given, on the amount of the fee per ton. “We want to empower young people while cleaning up the environment,” said Minister Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu.
The waste processing unit in Abuja will also help prevent erosion. According to Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the city’s drainage systems are all blocked by tons of waste. A situation that is at the origin of “recurrent” flooding. The waste recycling center will also contribute to limiting pollution by throwing waste into the streets and sewers of Abuja and the surrounding communities.
A project developed by Waste Africa
Waste management remains a challenge in many parts of Nigeria. This West African country produces more than 30 million tons of solid waste every year, of which only about 30% is collected. The Abuja waste recycling plant has been built by Waste Africa, a non-governmental organization (NGO), following the signing of a partnership agreement with the Abuja Territorial Administration.
Waste Africa worked in collaboration with the Nigerian Department of Satellite City Development. With the new Abuja plant, Nigeria now has eight waste recycling centers.
Inès Magoum