LAWMA plans to transform waste into biogas

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has announced plans to establish a biogas plant, aimed at converting waste into sustainable energy and fertilizer at the Ketu-Ikosi fruit market.

The Assistant Director, Head of Waste Energy, LAWMA, Abimbola Ajayi, disclosed this recently at the sidelines of Ketu-Ikosi fruit market clean-up organised by FABE International Foundation in collaboration with Prudential Zenith Life Assurance, to sensitised the traders on the importance of waste segregation for biogas production.

Ajayi stressed that there is a need for partnership with other NGOs to survive and showcase the state government’s plans for the biogas plant.

“By December 2024, we are going to have a grand-breaking ceremony of our biogas plant in this market.

“By June 2025, we are going to inaugurate the biogas plant. We are going to have power supply to the market, majorly to the loading bay.

“We are going to be providing 29 megawatts of electricity in this market using the same residual food/fruit waste that we think is waste to produce this energy,” Ajayi said.

He commended FABE Internal Foundation and the Prudential Zenith Life Assurance for the sensitisation programme.

Founder and the Chief Executive Officer, FABE International Foundation, Temitope Okunnu, emphasised the importance of waste segregation, noting that the effort is part of a broader mission to transform the market from an illegal dumpsite into a cleaner, more sustainable environment.

According to her, the project “Project Clean Air”, aimed at eliminating illegal dumping in the area and converting these sites into eco-gardens using compost derived from market waste.

She noted that the waste generated, ranging from food scraps to plastic, and proper segregation can maximise the benefits of the biodigester and foster a culture of sustainability among traders, ultimately reducing the market’s environmental impact.

Okunu encouraged traders to segregate their waste by taking advantage of the available biodigester at the market.

“We are here today to clean up the Ketu-Ikosi fruit market and our mission is very clear. We want to sensitise the market people where the source of fruit is, so that they can become advocates of change themselves.

“From research, we know that fruit waste can generate biogas and compost for farming. Here at the Ketu-Ikosi fruit market, we have a biodigester and it has not been utilised.

“We want a situation where the market people themselves can begin to segregate their waste into a kind of waste that can feed into the biodigester.

“With this, they can produce electricity as well as cooking gas from their organic waste. Traders can begin to tap into the biogas initiative for cooking and also the CNG experience for the activities they embark on.

“We are here to urge the fruit traders so that they can begin to segregate and sort their waste right from the source of generation. It does not have to end up at the dump site,” Okunnu said.

Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Prudential Zenith Life Insurance, Cherise Ige, underscored the impact of the initiative in the community, noting its alignment with broader sustainability goals to reduce carbon footprint and improve air quality for a healthier future.

She urged market women to be more sensitive, creating a healthier environment for all Nigerians, like planting trees, to enhance air quality and overall well-being.