Waste prickers need training to enhance skills, knowledge — Minister

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Minister for Environment, Balarabe Lawal said there is a need to train and build capacity of waste prickers(baban bolla) in order to enhance their skills and knowledge for improved safety and efficiency.
He made the call at a stakeholders consultative meeting on development of digital repository for waste pickers in Nigeria,
The event was organized in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with International Labour Organisation (ILO)and Tearfund Nigeria yesterday in Abuja .
Lawal represented by Director III, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Omotunde Adeola said waste pickers popularly known as “Baban Bolla” are the backbone of the waste recovery, while contributing significantly to the recycling and circular economy.
According to Lawal , waste pickers form the informal group whose activities encompasses all aspect of waste management from collection, sorting, transportation, processing and selling of recovered and recyclable materials to earn a living.
“ They have established such a high network of operation and distribution of valuables both within and outside the country. They can therefore not be overlooked in the value chain”.
He emphasized that, “The growing demand for recyclable materials and the transition to a circular economy makes it very imperative for governments and the general public to recognise, regulate and integrate waste pickers into the overall waste management effort.
The minister further explained that there is a growing recognition that waste pickers contribute to local economy, public health, safety and environmental sustainability.
He added that they are faced with negative public perception, deplorable living conditions and very little support from government both at the national and subnational levels, but that this is not peculiar to Nigeria.
He said for Nigeria to address the problem faced by these heroes of waste management, integrating waste pickers into the formal waste management sector is necessary.
Similarly, National Project Coordinator,International Labour Organization(ILO) Stephen Agugua, said concerted effort is required to ensure that waste streams are effectively controlled using sound waste management practices.
He said when waste is being managed well, it offers opportunities for creation of jobs in the circular economy and many positive impact.