The Lagos State government has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with a Netherlands-backed firm, Closing the LOOP B.V, on e-waste management and conversion to wealth.
The agreement will see to the establishment of a smelter plant in the state.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, who signed on behalf of the state, said the smelter plant would create new jobs and a new economy because e-waste would be converted into valuable products.
Wahab noted that the presence of the Netherlands Consul-General in Nigeria, Michel Deleen, affirms a vote of confidence in the company’s capabilities.
He said: “Netherlands and Lagos are both coastal in nature. Lagos generates at least 13,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, including solid, medical and electronic wastes, and so we are partnering on e-waste to wealth because we want to take our electronic waste and convert it to wealth. This will also create employment opportunities for our residents.
“Many people lack an understanding of how to properly dispose electronic products or the waste from e-products, so the risk of pollution becomes more manifest.
“Before now, what usually happens to our electronic waste? Government put them together, ship them out, reconvert them to value and then bring them in to sell to the people again. But now we want to transform the waste into something of value, we want to transform the waste into wealth right in our country, so we are signing this agreement with Closing the Loop BV to make this dream a reality.”
Special Adviser to the governor on Environment Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu said the Lagos team is ready to collaborate and see that things are done right because ‘officials of Closing the Loop BV seem poised for the job at hand.
He added: “We have a lot of waste and we don’t know what to do with them, but now is the time. With this agreement, we will begin to convert our waste to valuable wealth.”
Mr. Deleen praised the Lagos State government for being proactive, especially as witnessed in the non-stop 10-hour rainfall few days ago, yet the flash flood disappeared after a few hours of the rain stopping.
He added: “The truth is most developed countries with good infrastructure still experience flash flood when it rains incessantly,” he said.
Deleen emphasised that the Netherlands is willing to partner Lagos in creating value from e-waste to wealth.
He said: “We are ready to partner the Lagos State government for the good of the people and the state. We are here to turn waste to value. Nigeria doesn’t create value for waste and this is what we like to change.
“That’s why we are here to work together to solve these issues. The time is now. Lagos has set a great example in this feat.”
President of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers, Ingrid Thijssen, expressed delight at the partnership, saying it will benefit both parties tremendously.
