By Abdullahi Lukman
The President of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos (ASWOL), Friday Okuh, has urged government to accelerate the implementation of the global plastic treaty due to its critical importance in protecting their livelihoods and the environment.
Oku spoke in Lagos at the commemoration of the International Waste Pickers Day on March 1st.
The call centers on the ongoing negotiations of the Global Plastic Treaty, an international agreement involving approximately 175 nations aimed at eradicating plastic pollution throughout its lifecycle.
Okuh stressed the necessity for the treaty to legally recognize the rights of waste pickers, both internationally and locally, while ensuring a just transition for their community.
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“A treaty with mandatory Just transition provisions will uplift more than 300,000 in Nigeria and over 40 million waste pickers worldwide, secure our livelihoods, and affirm our essential role in safeguarding our planet,” Okuh stated.
He highlighted the vital role of waste pickers in material recovery, collection, recycling, and reuse, which directly combats plastic pollution and contributes to climate change mitigation and a circular economy.
The association also used the day to honor waste pickers worldwide, particularly those who lost their lives in Colombia in 1992, the event that prompted the establishment of International Waste Pickers Day.
ASWOL expressed solidarity with waste pickers facing violence on dump sites and those experiencing displacement from their livelihoods in various states across the country and Abuja.
Okuh raised concern about the growing threats to waste pickers’ livelihoods due to government closures of dumpsites and landfills without consultation, arguing that these spaces are essential for their work and income.
He acknowledged the contributions of all waste pickers in Lagos and Nigeria, as well as other organizations and movements celebrating the day, emphasizing their collective commitment to driving community progress and transformative change.
