Facing the realities, threats of e-waste

But these heaps of equipment seen at the computer villages are all junk, obsolete and outdated electronic gadgets shipped into Nigeria from developed countries as part of the rush by Nigerians to bridge the digital divide.
An e-waste country assessment for Nigeria published in 2012 showed that over 100,000 tons of these mostly obsolete Information and Communications Technology (ICT) devices illegally enter the country annually through Lagos and other ports in the country.
The assessment noted that used electrical and electronic equipments brought into the country are refurbished in specialised clusters and then sold to Nigerians as well as traders from other African states.
The ICT sector, according to the Minister of Information Communication, Mrs Omobola Johnson, contributes 8 per cent to the nation’s economy but most of the ICT activities undertaken in the country are dependent on imported second-hand electrical and electronic equipment as only less than 20 per cent of Nigerians can afford new electrical and electronic gadgets.
The assessment further found that as a result of exponential growth in the consumption of both used and new electronic products creating an increase in e-waste generation: “It is estimated that 1.1 million tons of e-waste is generated annually in Nigeria which is far more than the combined e-waste generated by most other countries in the ECOWAS region.”
 Dr Patrick Kormawa, UNIDO Country Representative and Regional Director for West Africa said recently that there was inadequate public education and awareness on the problems associated with the uncontrolled importation of near-end-of-life and end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment.
According to him, by 2030 developing countries would be discarding between 400 to 700 million obsolete computers as compared to 300 million from developed countries.
He said that what Nigeria needs to overcome the threats of e-waste is a sound national e-waste management strategy that would provide guidelines and regulations on disposal of e-waste, establishment or strengthening of existing dismantling facilities, recycling and refurbishment standards.
Dr Abdu Bulama, Minister of Science and Technology said that informal processing and improper disposal of electronic wastes cause serious health and pollution problems in Nigeria.
Bulama noted that it has become imperative to channel a proper way of managing and controlling e-waste by creating policy framework that would ensure strict compliance to the rules and regulations guiding importation of electronic and other relevant equipment.
“The geometric increase in electronic waste generated and available for disposal is not unconnected to the rapid changes in technology and quest for highly sophisticated electronic software and equipments,” he added.
Minister of Environment Mrs Laurentia Mallam said that electronic and information technology industry remains the fastest growing industry in today’s manufacturing world. “This industry thrives on rapid technology changes which lead to accelerated discards of older models. This discarded older models called e-waste form a rapidly growing waste stream in the world with attendant negative environmental and health impacts.”
She noted that Nigeria has been a dumping ground for used and un-serviceable electrical and electronic equipment from developed countries.
Mrs Mallam said that over 5 million personal computer units weighing over 60,000 metric tons are imported into Nigeria on annual basis.
She also noted that almost 25 per cent of the imported second hand computers are unusable junks that are non-functional or unrepairable.
E-waste, according to Dr Ade Toyin, a Chemist, contains hazardous materials such as lead, mercury, beryllium, cadmium and brominated flame-retardants that are dangerous to man and the environment.
Toyin said that the crude recycling process engaged in discarding e-waste in the country has made Nigerians and the environment vulnerable to harm from the dangerous materials contained in them.
As discussion on the impact of e-waste rages, young men operating as scavengers are busy burning computers and other electrical equipment at dump sites across the country.
Some of the scavengers who spoke to Daily Trust in Abuja said they extract substances from mobile phones and computers that can be turned into gold, silver, copper and palladium.
“We get more money if we find discarded computers or mobile phone as our master will ensure we remove all that is needed from it before we carry the remaining for burning,” Musa, one of the scavengers, said.