Climate change: Abuja communities trained on waste management

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate World Cleanup Day, some communities in Abuja have been trained on proper waste management and how to generate income through plastics and nylons.

The celebration which was held at the Clean Technology Hub in Guzape, Abuja, had in attendance over a hundred community volunteers.

Blessing Ekwere, one of the facilitators said the initiative which is called Nigerian Plastic Action Program is designed for volunteers to go into communities to educate and enlighten them on proper waste management, especially for plastics.

Ekwere said that plastics and nylons have caused a lot of environmental hazards and contributed to the increase in climate change and disruption of waterflow, thereby causing floods.

“Plastic has caused a problem in the environment as much as it was a solution initially, but because of its mismanagement, we are increasing in climate change, blocking drainages which have led to flooding and increase in diseases.

“So, this program was designed to go into communities and educate the community members on how to manage plastics properly”, she noted.
She said apart from educating the community members on waste management, they were also taught how to make money from plastic waste and nylon.

“Plastic management as a business is very lucrative that anybody who goes into it can generate revenue, and that was why when they went into the communities, aside from teaching them to manage plastics properly, they taught them craft that they can make from plastics which can then be sold.

“So, they taught them how to make baskets, instead of cutting trees to make baskets, you can use plastic bags to make baskets and sell them. Also, the collective of plastics, because it can be recycled, can collect the plastics, sell to recycling companies, and earn money.

“So far, the results are satisfactory because a lot of the participants have begun crafting and they are making the products to sell in the markets,” Ekwere added.

Manasseh Fegyiawodo Yakwo, from Kubwa Community, said upon hearing of the initiative, the Kubwa community welcomed it and keyed into it. He said so far, some participants in Kubwa are earning money from waste collection.

“When the program came to Kubwa, initially it was somehow dirty because of plastic and nylon waste, but as a result of this program coming in and getting to hear about the initiative, it was a welcome idea because it is going to keep the environment clean aside from creating jobs.

“We were able to turn plastic bottles into crafts, we converted the tires to tables, we made baskets made of nylons”, he added.

Mrs Godiya Danjuma, Nyanya Community, Gatekeeper said before the coming of the initiative, Nyanya Community was known for being very dirty.

She said because the community leaders in Nyanya accepted the initiative, there have been a lot of changes and consciousness among the community members.

She noted that her role is to make sure that the volunteers carry out their activities and ensure that Nyanya Community is clean.