2nd September, 2024
Residents of Badagry over the weekend received various rewards, including food items, cash, free transportation vouchers, and health insurance enrollment, as part of the Lagos State government’s new Circular Economy initiative designed to promote sustainable development practices across the state.
The event saw a large turnout of residents who eagerly exchanged their waste materials, such as PET bottles, rubber, and other disposed household items, for food items like rice, garri, and instant cash transfers directly into their bank accounts.
The initiative, titled ‘Eco-Circulate,’ was organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy, led by Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi.
The event, held at St. Thomas Primary School on Agbalata Market Road in Badagry, is one of many that will be replicated in other Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across Lagos State.
Eco-Circulate is a one-day sensitization campaign aimed at educating communities about the value of waste and how it can be leveraged to meet their needs.
The campaign is designed to activate and engage communities, particularly small businesses, as key beneficiaries in Lagos State’s drive toward a Circular Economy.
According to the Special Adviser, “Eco Circulate is a waste valorization, data aggregation, and circular education program that aims to enlighten and teach communities about the benefits of recycling, reusing, and reducing waste.”
“This initiative positions circular practices as an incentivized social subsidy strategy, rewarding residents who incorporate climate-friendly behaviors into their daily lives,” she added.
Oshodi emphasized the importance of educating communities on the impact of effective and responsible waste management on their health, financial capability, and overall quality of life.
The event featured a vibrant waste-to-value bazaar, offering residents opportunities to enroll in health insurance, receive free transportation vouchers, and obtain food items, among other benefits.
Oshodi noted that while significant progress has been made in promoting Circular Economy practices within Lagos through the Ministry of the Environment and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), there is a need to extend these practices to rural areas.
The Eco Circulate initiative was born out of this need to engage and educate communities.
“We need to stimulate the ideals and models of the Circular Economy,” Oshodi said, adding that “While we’ve made strides in Lagos, sustaining behavioral change is crucial. People must understand the benefits of responsible waste management, and the government is incentivizing this by offering rewards for proper disposal of items like cans, PET bottles, sachets, e-waste, and textiles.”
She explained that the government is partnering with private sector entities already engaged in waste-to-wealth initiatives, ensuring that rewards align with the amount of waste collected at designated centers.
The incentives include discounts on transportation (BRT, Rail, and Waterways), health insurance schemes, and more.
Highlighting the sustainability of the programme, Oshodi revealed that “Badagry is our first location, chosen to help us gather data that will build a business case for scaling the initiative. Our plan is to run this program across all 57 local councils in Lagos, as mandated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.”
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, Bolaji Roberts, who is a native of Badagry, urged residents to take full advantage of the initiative.
He assured the government’s full cooperation in the exercise and thanked the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy for selecting Badagry as the launch site.
