Lagos: The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have initiated a pilot waste recycling project in the Jabi area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This endeavor aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and focuses on plastic waste recycling.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the project has been handed over to Chanja Datti, a waste management company, which will manage and operate the facility upon the completion of construction. This development follows an agreement with both AEPB and UNIDO. Mr. Kehinde Olusola, Chief Financial Officer of Chanja Datti, stated during the handover ceremony that the company was selected to fund, manage, and operate the facility.
‘We are here today to formally hand over the site for the recycling project, which we will be managing on behalf of AEPB. The civil works have now been handed over to the contractor, FEM-FASH Global Resources Ltd. We aim to complete construction within the next 30 days so that we can begin recycling operations,’ Mr. Olusola explained.
He mentioned that this event is significant for Chanja Datti as it coincides with the company’s 10th anniversary and underscores its commitment to environmental sustainability in Nigeria. Mr. Olusola added that while Chanja Datti is undertaking the construction, the company expects to recover its investment.
Mr. Charles Uzoma, UNIDO Project Field Coordinator, also spoke at the event, explaining that once the civil works are completed, UNIDO will provide the necessary equipment for plastic waste collection in the district. ‘We are piloting plastic recycling in the Jabi district in collaboration with the AEPB and Chanja Datti Company Ltd. Once civil works are done, UNIDO will supply equipment to aid in the collection and preliminary processing of plastics-either baled or crushed-before they are transported to processing centers,’ he said.
Mr. Uzoma emphasized that this initiative is the first of its kind in Abuja and represents a significant collaboration between the public and private sectors. He noted that the project is funded by the Government of Japan and is being implemented in both Lagos and Abuja, with the Abuja pilot based in Jabi and the Lagos component ongoing in Lekki and Yaba.
Representing the Director of AEPB, Engr. Braimah Osilama, Mr. Benjamin Enwerem, Director of Solid Waste Management, commended UNIDO for initiating the project. He described the commencement of the civil works as a major milestone in the project’s journey.
Mr. Enwerem emphasized that the project would help reduce plastic pollution, which adversely affects public health and contributes to flooding and other urban challenges. He stated that although this is a pilot project, it is intended to serve as a model for similar facilities, including those initiated by the private sector, and urged the contractors to construct a center that sets a standard others can emulate.
He concluded by stating that the AEPB plans to establish more recycling centers across the metropolis to curb plastic waste and promote sustainable urban living.