UK to invests $5M in Ogun electronic waste recycling

September 19, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The United Kingdom, UK, set to invest $5 million in a lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling plant in Ogun State.

The move aim to tackle Nigeria’s growing electronic waste problem.

Adrian Clews, CEO of Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd, announced the project at a press briefing in Abeokuta, highlighting Nigeria’s alarming electronic waste production. “Nigeria generates 200,000 metric tonnes of electronic waste annually, making it the second highest producer in Africa after South Africa.” He said.

The recycling plant, supported by Manufacturing Africa, a UK Government initiative, aims to create at least 100 direct jobs and mitigate the environmental and health risks associated with electronic waste.

Clews said, “Nigeria generates electronic wastes of over 200,000 tonnes every year and these are left on the dump sites across the country which poses a significant threat to the health of the people and the environment.

“So at Hinckley, it was an excitement to take it upon ourselves to establish Africa’s first Lithium battery recycling plant here in Ogun state and which is supported by Manufacturing Africa under the British government.

“The lead in the battery is a heavy metal that is quite dangerous to the health of the people, unfortunately, there is a large informal sector that are recycling these batteries, we need to raise the standards considerably and that is one of the reasons for the investment.

“The $5m investment with state of the art facilities is expected to have been completed within the next 12 months.”

Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, welcomed the investment, stating, “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to sustainable waste management and environmental protection.

“For ferrous and non-ferrous metals, we recycle close to 1300 tonnes in a day, the companies are around the Sagamu-Ogijo axis of the state and for papers, we do about 1400 metric tonnes of that as well. We have about 780 people who are aggregating into this venture and it has continued creating jobs” He added

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, emphasized the UK’s support for Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.

The project is expected to boost Nigeria’s circular economy, reduce waste, and promote eco-friendly practices.