By Uzor Odigbo
The 4th edition of Lagos Waste Forum kicked off on Tuesday with environment experts advancing solutions to waste collection and management in the circular economy.
One of the experts Dr. Ola Oresanya emphatically said that Lagos cities are sitting on refuse dumps calling for immediate recycling of all wastes henceforth.
The 2-day seminar, “Investing In Plastics Recovery Towards A Circular Economy” attracted experts from International Labour Organisation (ILO) LAWMA, Coca-Cola, SWEEP Foundation.
They congratulated the convener Amb. Phillips Obuesi for his unalloyed interest in Waste Recovery, Reduction and Management.
In his opening statement, Ambassador Phillips Obuesi, President of the Lagos Waste Forum and SWEEP Foundation, underscored the importance of transforming waste management practices. He highlighted the need for collaborative efforts, innovation, and open dialogues, emphasizing that sharing resources and sustaining advocacy are essential foundations for attracting the investments needed to control pollution.
He said “Today, there is an on-going global transition from our traditional linear economy to a more sustainable circular economy with a view to addressing and mitigating the harsh realities of climate change due to pollution. Because we have a shared future, it is urgent and necessary to collectively control pollution through waste management. But how do we do this if there are no collective investments in adaptation and mitigation?
“It is due to our shared future that we are gathered here today on the platform of the Lagos Waste Forum to glean from expository keynote speeches, and informative plenaries that will be offered at the forum”, he added.
Doubling down on Barr. Obuesi’s perspective was Dr. Ola Oresanya, a former Ogun State Commissioner for environment, In his address said over Twelve Thousand Tones of waste is generated daily in Lagos (12,000) and efforts should be made in getting Nigerian citizens involved in waste collection and recycling.
According to him, Some notable infrastructures in Lagos are sitting on refuse dump example, Anthony Village, Adeniji Adele, Makoko, and kelekemura market, insisting that refuse dump sites are no longer available which calls for urgent action on recycling.
Dr. Oresanya decries the take over of waste recycling business by Asian business men while Nigerians watch and serve under meager wages. He advised Nigerians invest more in the recycling of plastics and other wastes as to benefit from its value chain.
Mrs. Amaka Onyemelukwe in her key note speech emphasied on the need to strengthen laws by regulatory agencies to empower Nigerians in the waste collection and recycling business and to punish poor habits of waste removal by the collection.
Mrs. Amaka Onyemelukwe, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability, Coca Cola, said her company is deeply entrenched in curtailing plastics wastes, revealing Coca Cola’s long term plan in this regard, while commending Lagos Wastes Forum for always been in the forefront of ridding the environment of plastic waste, alluding the fact that her company have done marvelously well in assisting those in the industry value chain in actualising their dreams in waste collection.
Adding that, Although, more ground are still to be covered. “We are not where we supposed to be, We would get there some day”.
The international Labour Organisation representative in Nigeria and West African region Dr. Stephen Agugue expressed gratitude to SWEEP Foundation for organizing the Waste Forum, adding that with such forums, sensitizing the Labour force in waste collection and recycling would improve workers earnings. He advised the Labour force in the country to latch on the available information and organise themselves into Cooperatives in order to access funds to invest and engage in the waste recovery value chain.
The Lagos Waste Management Agency LAWMA representative, Dr. Essien Asuabia expressed gratitude to SWEEP Foundation for organizing the forum and said, “LAWMA as regulatory agency would provide an enabling environment to enhance Waste collection, recycling and removal”.
Meanwhile, Mrs Belinda Aderonke Odeniyi an environmentalist emphasized on the need for cleaner household and more involvement of schools in teaching cleaner environment in schools.
She called for the return of cleanser environmental crusaders and campaigners back in schools. She noted that some products such as clothing materials and jeweleries people value as expensive came from recycled wastes and if not carefully examined could cause Cancer.
Mrs Aderonke finally advise that everyone should strive to be a Change Agent, “Our mind-set should be changed towards stoping Pollution, digredation and Corruption as She charged all and sundry to make a difference in their little corner for a healthier environment and society.
The forum continues tomorrow