WAPAN President Calls for Urgent Support and Recognition for Nigeria’s Waste Pickers

Published by NatureNews Africa

In a powerful address on August 20th, 2024, at the One-Day Consultative Forum on the Development of a National Digital Repository for Waste Pickers, Salisu Ali Yarima, National President of the Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN), made an impassioned plea for enhanced support and recognition for the nation’s 13,000 waste pickers.

Yarima urged both international and local organizations to provide crucial resources, including training and personal protective equipment (PPE), to support these unsung heroes of Nigeria’s waste management system. His vision includes the establishment of recycling hub centers in each state and pilot zones, where waste pickers can work with dignity and without the threat of eviction or harassment.

He also championed the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme, which aims to integrate waste pickers into benefit programs and grant them access to essential financial resources like microloans and climate finance. This initiative seeks to recognize the significant contributions of waste pickers to environmental sustainability and the country’s waste management system.

Yarima praised the Federal Ministry of Environment, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and Tearfund Nigeria for their efforts in launching the digital repository project. This groundbreaking initiative is designed to streamline the registration and support of waste pickers nationwide, perfectly aligning with WAPAN’s ongoing national data capture efforts.

Yarima’s heartfelt appeal underscores the urgent need for comprehensive support and acknowledgment of waste pickers, ensuring they receive the respect and resources essential to their vital role in maintaining Nigeria’s environmental health.

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