Neveah Limited has announced commencement of production at its state-of-the-art aluminum and copper recycling plant in Ogun State.
In a decisive first run, the plant has produced its first set of aluminum ingots, achieving an impressive 85.1% purity level, an indicator of the superior quality Neveah aims to consistently achieve once full-scale operations begin.
By leveraging cutting-edge instruments, Neveah ensures that each ingot adheres to the highest global standards, thereby facilitating seamless access to demanding export markets.
This adoption of the latest technology ensures that every ingot produced not only meets but surpasses international quality requirements, reinforcing Neveah’s commitment to premium-grade output that is export-ready.
“This milestone is more than just production, it’s a glimpse into our future,” said Mr. Ibidapo Lawal, CEO of Neveah Limited. “We are not just recycling; we are redefining how Africa contributes to the global circular economy.”
As the company gears up for full-scale operations in the coming days, this milestone underscores a series of significant strides.
Neveah’s recycling plant, a multi-billion Naira investment, is designed to process over 44,000 metric tons of aluminum and copper annually, generate over $150 million in export revenue, create 500 direct and over 6,000 indirect jobs, and cut carbon emissions by more than 377,000 tons yearly. Such environmental and economic benefits align with Neveah’s broader mission to foster sustainable growth and support national development goals.
The company secured the top position in the Metals & Mining category and ranked 21st on the Financial Times’ 2025 list of Africa’s Fastest-Growing Companies.
These accolades spotlight Neveah’s global relevance and operational excellence in a highly competitive sector, a testament to its resilience, strategic vision, and operational excellence.
As the plant prepares to transition to full-scale production in the coming days, Neveah stands poised to transform scrap into high-quality metals, reinforce Nigeria’s export portfolio, and drive a circular economy model that benefits communities at home and abroad.
In Nigeria, where unemployment and environmental pollution continue to escalate, some individuals are finding innovative ways to turn waste into a source of livelihood. One such person is Mutiat Adeleke, a university janitor and small-scale entrepreneur who supplements her income by picking up and selling recyclables. Unlike most people who see discarded plastics and cartons as mere trash, she sees them as an extra source of income.
Mrs. Mutiat Adeleke, a university janitor and small scale entrepreneur, shares how selling recyclable supplements her income
Mutiat’s job as a janitor provides a steady income, but it’s barely enough to cover all her expenses. Transport costs, rising food prices, and other daily needs often leave her struggling. However, by selling collected waste materials to recycling companies, she earns extra cash that eases her financial burden. “With the money I make, I can afford transport fares without stress, buy things I couldn’t normally afford, and even save a little,” she explains.
Nigeria faces a dual crisis: rising unemployment and worsening environmental pollution. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reports that while over 70% of Nigerians were employed in early 2023, many were engaged in low-paying or unstable jobs, with 12.2% working fewer than 40 hours per week and seeking more work. This has driven many to explore alternative income sources, including waste recycling, entrepreneurship and other small-scale businesses.
According to the World Bank, Nigeria currently generates at least 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, and this number is projected to rise to 107 million tonnes by 2050, much of it ending up in streets, drainage systems, and dumpsites.
With formal job opportunities scarce, informal waste collection and recycling have emerged as alternative income streams, particularly for low-income earners, youths, and women who are often marginalized in the labor market. Organizations like Wecyclers, Recycle Points, and Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) are leading the way in creating structured opportunities for people to earn through waste collection.
For many Nigerians, waste picking is no longer just about survival, it’s a business. Women like Sikiru Mulikat, a mother of three, have discovered new opportunities in recycling.
“I used to work as a laborer, carrying heavy loads for daily wages, but the job was unpredictable and exhausting. Then I started collecting and selling recyclable waste, and it has given me a more stable source of income,” Sikiru shares. “Now, I can support my children and even set some money aside for the future.”
Informal waste collectors, often called “wastepreneurs,” are turning discarded materials into economic opportunities, supplying recycling companies with plastic, metal, and glass for reuse.
Beyond individual waste pickers, some young Nigerians are launching innovative startups that combine waste collection with tech-driven solutions.
John Akande, an environmental enthusiast, founded Johllak ecological management, a waste management initiative that transforms plastic waste into reusable products. His journey began with a simple concern for the growing plastic pollution in his community, but he soon saw an opportunity to create both impact and employment.
“I started this because I was deeply bothered by the amount of plastic waste clogging our streets. At first, it was just about finding a solution to keep my community clean, but as I researched more, I realized that plastic waste is not just a problem, it’s an opportunity. I met others who shared my vision, and together, we built a system that not only helps the environment but also creates jobs for people who were previously unemployed.
“Now, instead of plastic ending up in landfills or causing pollution, we turn it into valuable products. Seeing waste collectors earn a stable income and watching our materials get repurposed into useful items motivates me to keep pushing for a greener future.
“What many consider useless waste can become valuable products through proper technology and processing. We currently produce kegs, chairs, buckets, tiles, school desks, roofing sheets, pipes, and phone cases. These products are durable, affordable, and help reduce environmental degradation. Our goal is to scale up production, collaborate with more recycling plants, and ultimately change the way people see waste. If we can turn trash into something useful while improving lives, then we are on the right path,” he explains.
Similarly, Wale Ajani, founded Ajara environmental management. His organization is dedicated to turning waste into economic opportunities while promoting environmental sustainability. For him, waste is not just a problem, it is an underutilized resource that, if properly managed, could drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve public health.
Instead of focusing solely on traditional recycling methods, Ajani’s approach is centered on community engagement, policy advocacy, and large-scale waste repurposing. “Our goal is to change the way people see waste. Many still think of it as something to be discarded, but we see potential whether it’s plastic, metal, or organic waste, each has value if processed correctly,” he explains.
Through Ajara Environmental, he has partnered with waste collectors, local governments, and private companies to build a structured recycling system. His team focuses not just on collection but also on educating communities about waste disposal, segregation, and the financial benefits of recycling.
‘We’ve trained hundreds of individuals, especially youths and women, on how to turn waste into wealth. Some have started their own waste collection businesses, while others now supply recyclables to industries,’ he says.”
“The waste sector in Nigeria has massive potential. If the government and private sector invest in it, we can create thousands of jobs, reduce environmental pollution, and even generate sustainable energy. Waste should no longer be seen as a burden but as a vital part of economic growth,” he concludes.
Despite the promising opportunities in the waste sector, significant challenges remain. Many informal waste collectors work in unsafe conditions, handling hazardous materials without protective gear. This exposes them to health risks such as respiratory issues, skin infections, and injuries from sharp objects.
Moreover, societal perception remains a significant barrier. Waste collection is often regarded as a low-status, menial job associated with poverty, which makes it difficult for waste collectors to gain recognition or respect.
Financial constraints also limit the sector’s growth. Many small-scale recyclers struggle to afford the necessary machinery for large-scale operations, relying on manual labor that slows productivity. Without financial support or access to investment, expanding waste management ventures is a constant struggle for many entrepreneurs.
“There’s still a stigma around waste picking,” says Adekola Abdulsalam, a sustainable waste management advocate. “People don’t realize how much impact waste recycling has on job creation and environmental sustainability.”
Nigeria’s waste sector holds enormous potential to drive economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability. To realize this potential, experts suggest a combination of government incentives, private sector investment, and public awareness campaigns to formalize and scale up recycling efforts.
One key area of opportunity is waste-to-energy projects, where organic waste is converted into electricity through processes like biogas production and incineration. These projects not only address Nigeria’s energy crisis but also reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Another promising model is the circular economy, where waste materials are repurposed into new products instead of being discarded. This model promotes sustainable practices such as recycling, upcycling, and the production of eco-friendly building materials, reusable packaging, and even fashion accessories made from plastic waste.
For Nigeria to tap into the economic value of its waste sector, stronger policies and infrastructure development are essential. Investments in modern recycling plants, waste sorting facilities, and incentives such as tax breaks for recycling businesses could significantly boost the industry. Public awareness campaigns would also be crucial in changing societal attitudes, encouraging more individuals and businesses to embrace recycling.
Nigeria’s waste sector is poised to be a major engine for job creation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. With the right policies, investments, and public participation, the country could transition from a waste crisis to a waste-powered economy, where sustainability drives opportunity.
If government agencies, private investors, and communities embrace the economic value of recycling, Nigeria can create a future where waste is no longer seen as a burden, but as a valuable resource for both the economy and the environment.
The initiative of the governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to boost industrial growth by creating an enabling environment for local and direct foreign investments has recorded yet another significant milestone.
Last week, the British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Richard Montgomery, broke the good news of a new deal with the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) to establish a five-million-dollar British battery recycling company in the State. When the company becomes operational, it will be the first of its kind in Africa, thus making the State the leader in battery recycling on the black continent.
For the benefit of the doubt, this is no longer in the realm of speculation. The deal has already been sealed, ready to berth with a loud thug. To be sure, it is not the governor that is talking here. It is the High Commissioner himself whose words carry the seal of the authorities of the United Kingdom.
Hear from the horse’s mouth: “My brief visit to this state is about the deal put together for recycling, which is moving out of Lagos State and establishing a new plant here for recycling e-waste. The OgunInvest and the Director General, Lands and Survey, are working to ensure the deal comes off the line. And I am glad to be here to join the final conversation. I think that will bring new technology and new jobs to the State.
“The battery company will be manufacturing in Ogun State. It will be the first of its kind in Africa, and we will make the State the leader in battery recycling in Africa.
“For the first time, it is now possible to recycle the cell back into chemical form in Africa and export the black mass, which contains the minerals inside the battery, to make new batteries.
“This is by no means a significant achievement for the Abiodun administration which has committed itself to the objective of making the state the preferred destination of choice in Africa. It is one of the dividends of the collaborative efforts of the Special Adviser (SA) of the OgunInvest, and his counterpart (Director General) in the Bureau of Lands and Survey.
Montgomery confirmed this in his remarks, saying: “It is really exciting that we received support from Ogun Invest, and officials from the Bureau of Lands confirmed the Certificate of Occupancy (CoC). We can say that the investment will be about five million dollars, and we want Ogun State to be the place where this industry can grow.”
With the feat, Governor Abiodun can now beat his chest to say that his aspiration to lead Ogun State to achieve its manifest destiny as a leading industrial hub in Nigeria and beyond is becoming a reality. The road may be long and the journey may be slow, but we will surely get there with the steady progress the administration is making towards achieving the overarching objective. All that is required is a clear vision and focused leadership as exemplified by the governor.
As already stated inter alia, the vision of the Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) is to make Ogun State as the industrial and logistics hub of Nigeria and the preferred investment destination in the West Africa sub-region. Its mission is to create an investor-friendly environment that attracts and retains domestic and international investments, thereby fostering economic growth. The same objective also informed the land reform initiative of the administration to ensure a seamless process of land acquisition by genuine investors, thus protecting them from extortion by Omo Onile (land grabbers).
The High Commissioner, looking into the future of the newfound partnership, said his country would like to participate in energy, technology, tertiary education, agricultural processing, and also explore how to find more United Kingdom-linked companies to invest in the State, adding that discussions are ongoing with the state team on how to proceed in the coming year.
He explained that the visit to the state was partly to review the progress being made in Ogun as the industrial hub of the nation and how the State had fared in the areas of infrastructure and creating a conducive environment for business to thrive.
He noted that the British International Investment, a financial development institution, had invested in one of the major cashew processing and export companies, adding that his country was ready to offer technical assistance to the state’s mass transit system, which is currently being test-run.
Governor Abiodun, in his response, assured the High Commissioner of the availability of a large expanse of land suitable for the cultivation of food and cash crops and also disclosed the presence of large deposits of limestone and other minerals in the State.
He said the state remained a conducive place to numerous manufacturing companies, boasting of the biggest industrial park as a result of the gas pipelines from the Niger Delta that criss-cross the length and breadth of the State.
Abiodun said he deliberately focused on the provision of road infrastructure and other amenities to attract more investments to the state. He added that the establishment of the Ministry of Transportation, the development of the Transportation Master Plan, and the building of a cargo airport were some of his takeaways from participating in a summit in the United Kingdom in 2020.
“We are open for business. Our administration has made the environment attractive. We have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks to the barest minimum. We have made land acquisition seamless for investors. We have grown our economy.
“Ogun State is effective and forward-thinking. I want to thank the High Commissioner for the support we have enjoyed from the British Foreign Office,” he said.
Earlier at a press conference, the Special Adviser/DDG of OgunInvest, Ms. Sola Arobieke, had hinted at the preparedness of the Ogun State government, through the State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (Oguninvest), to collaborate with the Manufacturing Africa programme, an initiative of the UK government through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the British High Commission, and Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd to boost manufacturing sector in the state.
She described the partnership as pivotal to the enhancement of the manufacturing sector and investor confidence in Ogun State as a leading industrial hub in the West Africa corridor.
She stressed the role of the Manufacturing Africa Programme in supporting industrial development and innovation across Africa, while also acknowledging the FCDO’s commitment to advancing manufacturing capabilities and promoting sustainable practices.
Speaking further, she described Hinckley E-Waste Recycling Ltd as a pioneering leader in electronic waste management, noting that the company specializes in the safe and efficient recycling of electronic waste, employing advanced technologies and sustainable practices to manage e-waste responsibly. She explained that the innovative approach would not only support environmental conservation but also promote best practices in electronic waste management across Nigeria.
Her words: “Hinckley Recycling became the first government-approved E-Waste recycler in Nigeria in 2016. The company is now expanding its operations to Ogun State with a groundbreaking project to establish the first lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling and treatment plant in Africa. This $5 million investment in the first year will utilize patented recycling technology and create 100 direct jobs. The project is supported by a market study and corporate finance assistance from Manufacturing Africa.
“In line with our mandate to attract and facilitate new investments into Ogun State, OgunInvest is dedicated to enhancing the state’s economic growth and promoting it as the premier investment destination in Nigeria. The agency provides comprehensive support services to investors, offering a one-stop solution for investment facilitation. This includes assisting with initial inquiries, providing detailed information on investment opportunities, guiding investors through regulatory requirements, and offering aftercare services to ensure successful investment operations.”
By projection, no less than 90,000 jobs will be created over the next seven years in Africa from foreign direct investment through FCDO’s Manufacturing Africa initiative. In the same way, the partnership with Hinckley will also directly result in the creation of 100 jobs through the establishment of the first lithium-ion and lead-acid battery recycling facility in Africa.
In terms of direct benefit, Ogun State’s industrial ecosystem will be elevated by access to the UK-patented battery recycling technology developed by Solveteq in collaboration with Imperial College London. This will establish the state as a technological leader in battery recycling across Africa.
By promoting sustainable e-waste recycling, Ogun State will mitigate environmental pollution and safeguard public health, particularly by preventing lead poisoning and child labour related to unsafe recycling practices.
In intent and purposes, the proposed recycling plan is a clear testament to the vision of the agency to firmly establish Ogun State as the industrial and logistics hub of Nigeria and the preferred investment destination in the region. It also affirms its mission to create an investor-friendly environment that attracts and retains domestic and international investments, fostering economic growth.
• Ogbonnikan writes from Abeokuta, Ogun state capital
The generation of electronic or e-waste in Nigeria and other parts of the world is rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling initiatives, the United Nations (UN) said yesterday.
According to UN’s fourth Global E-waste Monitor (GEM), the 62 million tons of e-waste generated in 2022 would fill 1.55 million 40-tonne trucks, roughly enough trucks to form a bumper-to-bumper line encircling the equator, according to the report from International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Meanwhile, less than one quarter (22.3 per cent) of the year’s e-waste mass was documented as having been properly collected and recycled in 2022, leaving $62 billion worth of recoverable natural resources unaccounted for and increasing pollution risks to communities worldwide.
A recycling firm, TURN Plastic Recycling Foundation, has showcased recycling innovations as part of activities to commemorate its second anniversary.
At an event hosted at the Port Harcourt office, the recycling firm showcased a journey that redefined waste and improved the lives and livelihoods of the residents.
The theme was “The Environment, Art, and Culture.”
The project coordinator from United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Ihuoma Njemanze, said the firm emerged from a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) collaboration between UNITAR, TotalEnergies E&P Nig. (TEPNG), and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
According to Njemanze, the company has started the Train up a Child (TUC) programme to accelerate the speed of adaptation to the UN SDGs and nationally determined contributions (NDCs), promoting waste management, and bringing about behavioural change and skill acquisition.
A business partner of the firm, Uloma Airhienbuwa urged Nigerians to work together with the company to realize the goal of having no waste on the streets and strengthening local communities.
While presenting recycling innovations, Uloma shed light on creative embracing environmental sustainability as their medium, challenging perceptions, and inspiring a new wave of environmental awareness through art.
She clarified how artists are using environmental sustainability as a means to challenge stereotypes and ignite a fresh wave of environmental consciousness.
The project manager, Leo Nwofa, summarized the project journey and roadmap, mentioning that the project has employed over 50 people (60% women).
He stated that the plant has grown by 50% between 2022 and 2023 and has saved, in Q3 2023, a CO2 equivalent of planting 300 trees.
Nwofa encouraged Nigerians to follow the hierarchy of waste management: refusing if not needed, reducing if necessary, and properly disposing of for recycling after use.
The programme featured poets passionate about sensitizing the public on waste management, who presented creative and passionate poems about plastic waste management.
ChieF Executive Officer of Hamruf Global Limited, Hammed Rauf, has said the company, in partnership with Lagos State Woman Affairs Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) and J.O Falana foundation will train 50 young people on waste glass recycling and glass plaques production.
According to him, Hamruf Global focuses on research of waste glasses, production of crystal plaques and provides training on recycling of broken glasses to reduce importation.
Rauf, who has led community development projects in health, education and sanitation sectors, said the initiative was birthed to create wealth and alleviate poverty.
He said: “We produced over 10,000 pieces of glass plaques, and recycling of glasses for Nigerian markets and Ghana. As at today, there is expansion to five countries in West Africa with quality of international standard.
“The success was due to our service-oriented approach where success is measured by customers’ satisfaction and value to clients businesses.”
Speaking on upcoming projects, he said, “Right now, we are working on a partnership with the Lagos State Woman Affairs Poverty Alleviation, (WAPA) on a progressive project, and also with the J.O Falana foundation to train 50 young people on waste glass recycling and glass plaques production.”
The Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) has emphasised waste recycling, especially those of food and beverage packaging, as vital in environmental preservation. According to FBRA, the value chain in the recycling process leads to job and wealth creation.
FBRA Vice Chairman, Adekunle Olusuyi, who spoke at the 12th National Stakeholders’ Forum of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in Abuja, said the Alliance has been intensifying awareness on separation of waste and environmental pollution, especially on post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, which can further be recycled to other useful products.
Olusuyi explained that FBRA participation in the summit was in line with the Alliance’s commitment to the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy of government, to help build a sustainable healthy environment that leads to business growth.
“We are looking at the entire packaging lifecycle – from how bottles and cans are designed and made, to how they are recycled and repurposed. We want to reduce the waste we generate as much as possible, encourage recycling, and our initiatives in this regard have been well tailored in achieving tangible results along with our partners,” he stated.
The stakeholders’ forum, which had the theme: “Circular Economy and Environmental Governance”, provided a platform for an in-depth discussion and array of issues focusing on critical factors in attaining sustainable development in the national development plan.
It also enabled stakeholders’ highlight waste-to-wealth initiatives, review progress in the implementation of the EPR programme, strengthens policies and regulations to enable the recycling of food grade packaging waste materials by establishing a national standards for recycled PET and determine how Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO) can support in waste management for a healthy environment, recycling roles, among others.
According to Olusuyi, a recent survey indicated that the volume of post-consumer PET waste is over 800,000 tonnes, thus requiring participation of all stakeholders at the various stages to drive a robust circular economy.
“The various roles in waste management start from waste separation, collection, to separation, transportation, shredding at the recycling plants, production of other products and re-use. At these stages, different jobs are created, whether directly or indirectly,” Olusuyi explained.
He, therefore, urged other companies in the food and beverage sector to be part of the Alliance, which has sworn to protect the environment and help make the world packaging problem a thing of the past.
THE International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that about six million additional jobs can be created through a sustained recycling of five per cent of plastic, glass, wood pulp, mega, and mineral waste generated annually across the globe.
The world body also said large amount of uncollected plastic waste are founding their way into the ocean, posing a potential threat to fishes.
It said unless something is done about it, there may be more plastics in the ocean than fishes by the year 2050.
In its report, entitled: “World Employment and Social Outlook: Greening with Jobs 2018”, the ILO said waste management and recycling sector has already employed over 500,000 people in Brazil and about the same number of workers in Bangladesh, with majority of them being women.
The President of Bureau of International Recycling (BIR), Ranjit Baxi, has said the benefits of recycling are immense.
Baxi, who spoke last Sunday, in London, the United Kingdom, during the first-ever “Global Recycling Day”, noted that the recycling industry provides two million jobs; saves 70 million tons of carbon emissions annually; reduces waste; promotes health and hygiene, and is projected to add $400 billion to the global gross domestic product by 2025.
According to the BIR President, because recycling plays such a crucial role in the preservation of the planet, this necessitated the coming together of stakeholders on Global Recycling Day to showcase the work already being done and to discuss what else can be done.
The aim of the Global Recycling Day, which coincides with the BIR’s 70th anniversary, is to unite people across the world, highlight the need to conserve the six primary resources (water, air, coal, oil, natural gas and minerals) and celebrate what is described as “the Seventh Resource” – the materials man recycle every day.
“The goal for Global Recycling Day is to show the world that there is a Seventh Resource, as economically viable as, and more sustainable than, the six key primary resources: air, water, oil, natural gas, minerals and coal. Recycling is a global issue, the environment is a global issue and this day celebrates that and pushes us all – wherever we live – to do more. March 18, 2018, marks the 70th anniversary of BIR, making 2018 a landmark year to create a day that recognises the vital role recycling and the industry plays in protecting the planet,” Baxi said.
In addition to being a day for encouraging and promoting recycling, Global Recycling Day also serves as a day of action, according to the BIR. On March 18, world leaders, international businesses, communities and individuals made clear commitments in their approach to recycling, and consumers asked to answer key questions about recycling, allowing them to think of recycling in a new way.
“We want Global Recycling Day itself to be a day of celebration, championship and change – a celebration of the food and materials around us, a championship of the good recycling can do and a change in our attitudes and practices toward our own waste and recycling habits,” states Baxi.
In Nigeria, the day was celebrated by the Chanja Datti Recycling Company, which held a 7:00 a.m. walk at the Eagle Square in Abuja, to push advocacy for recycling. Chanja Datti is also running an upcycling contest, where people can create an artistic people or artwork from only recyclable materials and post it on social media using the hashtag #GRDupcyclingCompetition.
Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited, operators of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative, ran a number of awareness raising messages via its Twitter account. Why some highlighted the benefits of recycling and the seven main categories of materials that can be recycled, others announced the occasion.
In a Twitter message, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), says: “Recycling plays a key role in achieving a more sustainable production and consumption model. It’s about action and taking better stewardship of the goods created, used and disposed off everyday.”
