IPCR urges FG to harness scavengers’ potential for economic boost

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11 months ago

The federal government has been urged to harness scavengers’ potential to boost the country’s economy.

The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), which made this call in Abuja, urged the federal government to formally recognize and integrate scavengers into national economic policies.

This came during a stakeholders’ validation workshop on Formalizing the Scavenger Economy for Sustainable Development in Nigeria funded by INCLUDE, a Netherlands-based organisation.

In his opening remarks, the Director General of IPCR, Dr Joseph Ochogwu, noted that there is a growing need for sustainable waste management solutions and the potential economic contributions of scavengers, who play a vital yet often overlooked role in the recycling and waste management sectors.

“These individuals are not just waste collectors; they are vital contributors to our economy and the environment.

“We believe that by integrating them into our economic framework, we can enhance their livelihoods while promoting sustainable practices.

“The primary aim of this research is to see how scavengers are included and incorporated into the formal economy,” he stated.

Ochogwu appealed to the government to implement policies that provide scavengers with access to healthcare, inclusion in terms of finances and other basic amenities.

“There is also a need to ensure that they have the National Identity card to enable them have access to facilities like the bank etc.

“By providing them with the necessary tools and support, we can empower these individuals to transition from the informal sector to a recognized part of the economy,” he added.

Also speaking, the Knowledge Manager of INCLUDE, Ms Olaoluwa Abagun, said that the research is very important because it zooms in on an abandoned area of research, which is scavengers and how much they contribute to the nation’s economy.

She also noted that billions of naira are accounted for due to the exports that are made as a result of the efforts made by scavengers.

“But unfortunately when we look at the policy landscape and social perception on waste pickers, it is not so much to write home about.

“There are a lot of gaps in policies and engagement with the broader waste management ecosystem and being recognized as full human beings. These scavengers are under-margined,” Abagun said.

One of the coordinators of the event and a Research Fellow in the Institute, Tonye Marclint, said that they recognize the role waste pickers in the informal sector play in the economy and the critical role they play in waste management despite being informal.

“They contribute to sustainable growth and development such as climate change and action. They are critical actors in our economy in terms of job creation, value addition among others. In Lagos alone there are more than 5000 informal waste pickers,” he said.

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