Adebola advocates for environmental accountability in constitution making waste management the responsibility of local governments

• Calls for functional Material Recovery Facilities for sorting waste, formalisation of informal sector operators.

President, Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria,,(AWAMN), Dr Olugbenga Adebola has advocated that environmental accountability be enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution, making waste management the responsibility of local governments.

Adebola, who made this submission while speaking at the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) Forum at the NECA House, Alausa CBD, described waste management as a collective responsibility, noting that effective waste handling was directly linked to public health and environmental safety.

The President of the AWAMN, stressed the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders.

He explained that poor waste management contributes to diseases such as malaria, cholera and lassa fever through blocked drainage, pest infestation and environmental pollution.

Adebola warned that open burning of waste releases toxic and carcinogenic substances, posing serious health risks, including respiratory illnesses and cancer.

He also highlighted the dangers of plastic waste, noting that mismanaged plastics break down into microplastics that contaminate water bodies and enter the food chain.

He called for functional Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) for sorting waste, and the formalisation of informal sector operators within the waste collection system.

AWAMN boss who disclosed that Lagos generates over 20,000 metric tonnes of waste daily due to rapid urbanisation, therefore emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among waste managers rather than see themselves as competitors.

He identified key challenges as inadequate infrastructure, weak policy implementation, poor waste segregation and limited funding.

According to him, inefficient landfill systems and lack of functional material recovery facilities further limit effective waste processing.

He called for increased investment in waste infrastructure, including modern recycling systems and material recovery facilities.

Adebola also advocated the formalisation of informal waste collectors to improve efficiency and inclusiveness in the waste management value chain.

He urged government to provide enabling policies and long-term financing to attract private sector participation in the industry.

He also called on the media to expand conversations around waste management beyond collection challenges.

Adebola urged journalists to focus more on underlying issues such as recycling, environmental sustainability, and urban planning, stressing that deeper public engagement is essential for long-term solutions.

Adebola, said his association needs an enabling environment for its members to deliver efficient and effective waste management in the state.

According to him, effective and efficient waste management requires the commitment and collaboration of government and Private Sector Participants (PSPs) operators, stressing the need for both parties to work together to chart a course for addressing the challenges in the waste management value chain.

Adebola said political leaders had underrated waste management and failed to recognise it as a problem, urging the state and local governments to take the environment seriously.