Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), has said it will provide a platform for the convergence of ideas and cooperation of all stakeholders in the efficient harnessing of the over $100 billion waste economy in the FCT and Nigeria.
The president of the Association, Comrade Salisu Yarima stated this in a meeting held in Abuja.
He said “WAPAN was inaugurated on July 20, 2023 in Abuja and since our inception, we have been proactively engaging with relevant stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations that share our vision for the waste management sector through various mails and dispatch letters.”
Yarima noted that the Association is currently registering waste pickers and waste collectors from across the nation and onboard them onto the WAPAN online website, saying that “we have successfully registered more than 5000 waste pickers from various regions of the country.”
According to him, one of the immediate challenges we are addressing, particularly in Abuja, is the plight of waste pickers and waste related businesses who have been facing hardships due to recent demolition and burning down of millions of waste resources by government authorities.
‘The demolition and burning of the multi-million naira Mabushi/Barnex dumpsite is still fresh in our memories. We have been displaced and businesses employing hundreds of Nigerian youths thrown into the labour market.
“While we understand the need for proper urban planning and adherence to regulations, we believe in humane and respectful protocols.”
The association called on regulatory agencies to dialogue with WAPAN officials for a more democratic approach to urban cleanup rather than resorting to sudden demolitions, especially in communities where our members operate, saying that “we also seek constructive dialogue to profer amicable solutions to the issues of scavengers and criminals in the FCT and across Nigeria.”
He added that “we are planning our first National Waste Pickers Conference slated for the first quarter of next year. The Conference is designed to showcase the critical role of waste pickers in harnessing the immense economic and social benefits in the over $100 billion waste economy of Nigeria.”
WAPAN president said “our vision that by the first quarter of next year, we aspire to have registered and organized a minimum of 250,000 waste pickers across the nation with the ultimate goal of reaching one million by the end of the year.”
WAPAN is a non-profit organization with the mission to advocate for, empower, and uplift waste pickers and waste-related businesses across Nigeria.
The Association aims to create a sustainable, inclusive, and supportive ecosystem for these hardworking informal workers in the waste management value chain.