The Association of Scraps and Wastepickers of Lagos (ASWOL) has demanded an independent investigation and compensation following the destruction of recyclable materials worth millions of naira belonging to its members during an enforcement operation in Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.
The association alleged that the operation, which also led to the detention of some waste pickers, wiped out the livelihoods of dozens of informal recyclers and dealt a major setback to the state’s circular economy.
ASWOL President, Mr Friday Oku, made the demand in a statement issued on Sunday in Lagos.
Oku appealed to the authorities to immediately release those detained and ensure those responsible for the destruction of the recyclable materials were held accountable in accordance with the law.
He described the incident as a major economic and environmental loss, noting that the destroyed materials represented months of collection, sorting and aggregation by informal waste pickers.
According to him, the informal recycling sector remains an indispensable partner in Lagos’ waste management value chain by recovering plastics, metals, paper, glass and other recyclable materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, drainage channels and the environment.
He said waste pickers contribute significantly to environmental sanitation, resource conservation, job creation and climate change mitigation through their daily recovery of recyclable waste.
“The destruction and burning of recyclable materials worth millions of naira have not only plunged affected families into hardship but have also undermined efforts to promote recycling, resource recovery and environmental sustainability.
“Open burning of recyclable materials releases toxic pollutants and greenhouse gases that endanger public health and further contribute to environmental degradation,” he said.
Oku urged environmental organisations, climate advocates, human rights groups, development partners, the media and other stakeholders to support ASWOL’s demand for justice.
He called on the government to conduct an immediate, transparent and independent investigation into the incident, compensate affected waste pickers for their losses, recognise informal waste pickers as legitimate environmental service providers and strengthen collaboration with the informal recycling sector.
Background
The incident occurred amid the Lagos State Government’s ongoing environmental sanitation enforcement drive being coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) Corps.
The state government has said the enforcement exercise, which has lasted more than two weeks, is aimed at restoring environmental order, eliminating illegal waste disposal, removing environmental nuisances, clearing black spots and ensuring compliance with environmental laws across Lagos.
The exercise has involved the removal of illegal structures and facilities considered to be obstructing drainage channels or violating environmental regulations in different parts of the state.
However, ASWOL maintained that while it supports environmental enforcement and cleaner cities, legitimate recycling activities should not be criminalised or result in the destruction of valuable recyclable materials and the livelihoods of those engaged in waste recovery.
The association urged the Lagos State Government to deepen engagement with informal waste pickers and integrate them into the state’s waste management framework, describing the sector as a critical contributor to recycling, resource efficiency and the circular economy.
ASWOL reaffirmed its commitment to partnering government agencies, the private sector and civil society organisations to build a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable Lagos, insisting that environmental protection and economic inclusion should go hand in hand.
The association maintained that protecting the rights and livelihoods of waste pickers would strengthen, rather than weaken, Lagos’ environmental sustainability agenda.
