Acting Programme Manager, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), Dorcas Nicanor, has called for a clear, practical and forward-looking waste management policy that aligns with the rapid population growth in Nasarawa State.

She made the call at a stakeholders’ policy dialogue to drive the development of a comprehensive waste management framework for the state. Nicanor argued that such a policy must extend beyond traditional waste collection and disposal systems to include innovative, sustainable approaches.

She stressed that the proposed policy should include critical components such as waste reduction strategies, recycling mechanisms, and sustainable financing models.

According to her, it is also important to integrate bio-waste management into the framework, given that organic waste constitutes a significant portion of the waste stream and presents an opportunity for resource recovery.

Organic waste, Nicanor observed, can be transformed into valuable resources such as compost and biogas, while also reducing environmental and public health risks.

The dialogue, she emphasised, is a participatory platform designed to harness the collective expertise of stakeholders and to encourage them to actively contribute by sharing insights, proposing policy statements, and offering practical recommendations to ensure effective implementation.

In his address, Nasarawa State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Dr Margaret Elayo, said the state is currently confronted with the growing challenge of climate change, which poses significant risks to its environment, economy, and public health.

The commissioner said addressing the threat requires a comprehensive approach that combines both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The impact, she said, ranges from irregular rainfall patterns to increased flooding and environmental degradation, which demand urgent and coordinated action at all levels of governance.

Without decisive intervention, Elayo said, these challenges could undermine the state’s aspirations for sustainable development and improved quality of life. She revealed that the government has developed a strategic framework to tackle climate change through the Nasarawa State Policy on Climate Change (NASPOCC).

According to her, the state is seeking enhanced collaboration with the private sector and development partners to build capacity and mobilise resources.

On his part, Director-General, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority, Mohammed Bello, pointed out that the future of waste management in the state lies in collective commitment to innovation, collaboration and sustainability.

He said that if waste is properly managed, “we not only clean our environment, we create wealth, protect public health and secure the future generations yet unborn.”

Also speaking, State Coordinator of the Nasarawa State Network on Environment and Climate Justice, Enoch Okolo, expressed commitment to promoting proper waste management practices across the state.

He said the framework would provide a systematic process for identifying existing gaps in waste-handling practices, assessing the volume and types of waste generated, and establishing clear roles for government agencies, private-sector participants, and local communities.