Nigeria Losing Billions in Revenue Due to improper E-Waste Management

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to E-Waste Relief Foundation (ERF), Nigeria is losing millions in revenue, due to improper e-waste management.

The country lacks a strong electronic waste recycling system. The efforts by government agencies such as the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) must be expanded. The government need to devote more, not only on educating people on the bad impacts of improper disposal of used electronics, but also do the needful to develop the network of collection and recycling facilities across the country. A systematic e-waste recycling system could generate employment and contribute to the country’s economy, ERF noted.

The foundation also highlighted on the health implications caused by improper electronic waste disposal. This could be easily identified from the rising cancer rates in the country. The improper management of waste, especially electronic waste, has led to doubling of cancer rate in Nigeria between 2016 and 2018.

ERF recommended that proper education of the informal sector by e-waste management experts could avert much of the harms caused by end-of-life electronics.