Borno explores waste-to-wealth initiative to boost employment, sanitation – EnviroNews

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The Borno State Government says it is exploring waste-to-wealth initiative to generate employment, stimulate economic activities and improve environmental sanitation through recycling and conversion of waste into useful products.

General Manager of the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA), Dr. Abubakar Sulaiman, disclosed this in an interview on Monday, November 2, 2026, in Maiduguri, the state capital.

Sulaiman said the initiative would transform discarded materials into valuable resources, rather than allowing them to accumulate in streets, residential areas and other public spaces.

He explained that the programme involved sorting waste, processing reusable materials and converting organic waste into products such as charcoal and other useful by-products.

According to him, the approach would not only reduce indiscriminate waste disposal but also create income-generating opportunities, improve environmental hygiene and contribute to climate change mitigation.

The BOSEPA boss said the agency had been implementing aspects of the initiative since 2020 through training and sensitisation programmes aimed at promoting sustainable waste-management practices.

He said that more than 500 women and children have received training to strengthen community participation while equiping them with practical waste-management skills.

Sulaiman, however, identified inadequate equipment, fund constraint and the high cost of diesel as major challenges affecting effective waste collection and processing.

He said the provision of waste-collection vehicles, sorting centres and recycling machines would enhance the agency’s capacity to manage increasing waste generated by the state’s growing population.

He called for stronger collaboration among government, universities, communities and private investors to establish a sustainable waste-recycling systems.

Sulaiman also urged residents, traders and business operators to maintain hygienic surroundings, dispose of refuse properly and support sanitation workers.

He said that sustained investment, public awareness and stakeholder cooperation were critical to transforming waste into economic resources while reducing environmental pollution.

By Ahmed Kaigama