On Wednesday October 8, 2025, the Community Development Advocacy Foundation (CODAF) hosted members of the Zero Waste Parliament at the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) located within the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The visit aimed to deepen understanding about the Multi-solving Action for Methane Reduction (MAMRN) project being implemented by CODAF in Epe LGA.

The meeting commenced with a formal introduction of all attendees. Key representatives present included the Speaker and Clerk of the Waste Parliament, General Secretary of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos State (ASWOL), and other notable stakeholders. Also in attendance were school children who had previously engaged with the Zero Waste Ambassadors as part of a sensitization initiative focused on composting and waste segregation. Their presence at the facility allowed them to gain firsthand exposure to the operations of an MRF and the implications of effective waste management.

During the interactive session, Raphael Oniovo, Project Assistant at CODAF, explained a key objective of the MAMRN project is to advocate for the integration of waste pickers into the formal waste management in Nigeria. He stated that this will improve their working conditions and enhance the efficiency of their work. He added that CODAF aims to engage relevant governmental agencies so that the concerns of waste pickers can be addressed at both local and state levels.

Further reinforcing this point, Mr. Richard Benin, CODAF’s Executive Director, stated that CODAF strongly opposes false solutions such as incineration, which adoption will displace waste pickers and undermine their role in the waste value chain. He emphasized that waste pickers are a vital part of the waste management hierarchy and deserve recognition and inclusion in policy-making.

Following the discussion was a tour of the MRF led by Raphael. During the tour, the ASWOL President, Mr. Friday Oku, engaged in a crucial conversation about the outright ban on carts in Lagos State.
He clarified misconceptions surrounding the ban, stating:
“The ban was not due to allegations of indiscriminate dumping of waste or criminal activity by waste pickers, as often speculated. It actually arose from commercial disputes between informal waste pickers and the state-backed Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators.”

The conversation also addressed the occupational hazards faced by waste pickers. Abdulwahab Abdulmumin, General Secretary of ASWOL, recounted multiple incidents involving street, site, residential, and waterway waste pickers, many of whom continue to operate in hazardous and unregulated conditions.
He shared a sad account from earlier that day:
“A picker was severely injured this morning when a truck reversed over his leg at one of our dumpsites. Sadly, incidents like this are not rare, they are part of the daily risks our members face.”