Nigeria is a country blessed by God with its various resources and blessings. As citizens of the country, we should be proud of our nation, yet a silent threat looms large on the bustling streets – poor waste management.
Similar to many African countries, Nigeria is abreast with heaps of trash and waste materials that should be disposed of properly.
From the passengers throwing used nylon bags and pet bottles from the windows of moving vehicles to the market trader piling up thrash indiscriminately, without proper disposal after the day’s sales of their wares and some customers, to residents using drainage systems and gutters as an alternative mode for waste disposal, the waste management culture underscores an appalling sight even with environmental laws and policies.
While some cities across the country have improved waste management culture and practices with better enforcement, this is not so with several cities across the country. This is not to insinuate that abroad trash is not seen but it is properly disposed of where it should.
According to a 2023 report by The Insider Monkey, Nigeria is ranked among the 25 most unhygienic countries in the world. This was based on the Mercer Health and Sanitation Index, with Nigeria exhibiting a score of 46.8, indicating a significant deviation from the standard of cleanliness associated with countries deemed to be clean.
“The issue of trash disposal in Nigeria persists, leading to the contamination of waterways and varying impacts on different towns within the country” the report states.
If as a citizen, you step outside your place of work or even your home you will trash everywhere. Undoubtedly, as one walks the streets of some major cities, wraps, nylon bags, sachet water packets, pet bottles, and fruit peels litter the street.
Environmental activists often wonder why the same practice can’t be imbibed in Nigeria. Why can’t we understand that it is not enough for our homes and surroundings to be clean, our country as a whole should follow suit.
Nigeria produces an estimated 32 million tons of solid waste per year, with only about 20-30 percent of it being collected and managed correctly.
The country’s management of solid waste is problematic and has been well documented just as its effects on the well-being of the citizens. But it is not the government that produces this waste; it is the citizens who have the option to burn trash before it is collected by waste management.
However, waste can be recycled and repurposed to generate wealth, jobs, and other advantages for the environment and society. But this is not the norm In Nigeria, which needs to be changed before the tipping point is reached.
The remainder of the waste is either dumped in unauthorized places or burned, contributing to pollution and health risks.
As citizens of this beautiful country, we should understand that we are destroying it with our own hands.
While some see it as part of the everyday routine, it shouldn’t be so. We can’t afford to wait for the government to solve all our problems for us.
Each plastic bag (nylon) that is dropped out of a moving car, every sachet water that is randomly thrown away, and refuse dumps, found in almost every area, are some of the breeding sites for mosquitoes.
Other diseases that can be traceable to poor waste management include typhoid, diarrhoea, cholera, asthma, and bronchitis.
In 2021, Nigeria recorded 111,062 Cholera cases and 3,640 cholera deaths. Nigeria produces the most solid garbage in Africa with approximately 70 percent of it being plastic waste that winds up in landfills water Bodies or sewers.
According to the World Bank Nigeria is the tenth largest producer of unmanaged plastics in the world accounting for 2.7 percent of the global total.
Lagos state alone produces 13,000 tons of waste per day according to the Lagos waste management agency. It is disclosed that waste produced in cities is greater than in rural areas.
In recent times, the Federal Ministry of Environment announced the ban on Styrofoam with the Lagos state government following suit. However, thorough implementation and enforcement will be required to drive through the message of proper waste management to the grassroots.
As the nation faces the challenges of poor waste management, some of its citizens lack the awareness of the underlying consequences of these wastes both to the environment aesthetically as well as ethically, thus they seem unaware of the urgency to reduce waste while practicing proper disposal.
The ramifications of poor waste management extend far beyond aesthetics. Public health is increasingly at risk as communities are exposed to a cocktail of toxins and contaminants. Improperly disposed of waste provides breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests such as mosquitoes and rodents, escalating the prevalence of vector-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue fever.
Moreover, the indiscriminate dumping of waste pollutes the soil and water sources, leading to the contamination of vital resources essential for agricultural productivity and potable water supply. The resultant environmental degradation exacerbates respiratory ailments and other health conditions among vulnerable populations, perpetuating a cycle of suffering.
However, addressing Nigeria’s waste crisis requires a concerted effort at all levels of society. Government authorities must prioritize waste management as a national priority, allocating resources and implementing stringent regulations to enforce proper waste disposal practices.
Simultaneously, individuals must embrace their role as stewards of the environment, adopting sustainable habits and holding accountable those who perpetuate environmental degradation.
It is therefore imperative that the community is enlightened on the effects of their waste disposal attitudes on the environment and their health.
Another solution would be for the government to develop appropriate and effective waste management systems that would be a standard for individuals and the private sector to follow.
The obstacles to Nigerian proper waste management are numerous and complicated. Hence, addressing this issue will involve making available, necessary waste management infrastructure, and public awareness that strengthens the regulatory frame work.
However, this process should start with the everyday man who cleans his environment and tells his neighbor to do the same.
