The Nigerian E-Waste Problem: Way Forward

Abstract

Technology has constantly evolved, leading to the invention and manufacturing of enhanced electronic and ICT devices. This has fueled the desire for people, companies and organizations to continuously upgrade their electronic and ICT infrastructure. Basically the circulation of these devices is on the increase. However, if new devices continuously replace existing ones, what happens to the ones replaced? Where do they go? How are they managed today? Unfortunately, these old devices end up in under developed and developing countries as “Tokumbos” (second hand, handed down), cheap alternatives. Such countries clearly lack the technology and technical know-how to appropriately recycle or dispose of them when they break down and become irreparable. They then end up as electronic waste (e-waste) not properly managed. Local disposal techniques employed by scavengers in such countries lead to consequences detrimental to the environment, the economy, ecology and lives of their people. This paper looks into the lingering problem of e-waste in Nigeria. It traces its source, reviews its negative impacts and via a comparatives study on countries that have good waste management practices, vis-à-vis efforts so far by the Nigerian government, seeks to suggest how to improve on the countries e-waste management strategies.