Lagos State has introduced a reward-based collection program for used cooking oil, offering residents cash incentives while positioning the state to capture a share of the global biofuel market worth an estimated $20 million.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources alongside the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), represents a partnership with Ororo Waste Management and backing from Shell Foundation. Officials launched the program Thursday before an audience of government representatives, environmental specialists, and youth advocates.
LASEPA General Manager Babatunde Ajayi described the scheme as a dual-purpose intervention addressing both environmental degradation and economic opportunity. The program aims to transform Lagos into a major supplier within the international biofuel supply chain while tackling pollution and health hazards created by improper oil disposal.
The initiative could generate at least $20 million in economic value for Lagos, Mr. Ajayi noted, establishing the state as a recognized player in global biofuel production.
Meeting Climate Standards Through Kitchen Waste
Aviation and energy sectors worldwide face mounting pressure to meet climate compliance requirements, with used cooking oil emerging as essential raw material for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel production, Mr. Ajayi explained.
Nigeria’s substantial population and oil-dependent cooking traditions position the country among the world’s top producers of used cooking oil. Lagos alone could represent approximately half of Nigeria’s total output, according to program organizers.
Health Risks and Infrastructure Damage
Mr. Ajayi outlined significant health and environmental consequences of careless oil disposal practices.
“Reheating cooking oil multiple times changes its chemical structure, creating health hazards. When poured down drains, the oil merges with plastic and styrofoam, clogging drainage infrastructure, damaging roadways, and intensifying flood risks,” he stated.
Lagos environmental laws already ban reckless disposal of waste, including oil-based materials, into drainage systems and public areas. The structured collection framework reinforces these regulations by assigning monetary worth to previously discarded material.
While LASEPA began collecting used cooking oil two years ago, the agency is now formalizing operations by installing staffed collection points at all zonal offices and headquarters locations.
How the Program Works
Residents can exchange their used cooking oil for monetary rewards at designated kiosks, converting household byproducts into earnings.
“This opportunity is universal. It begins at home, allowing people to profit from what they once threw away,” Mr. Ajayi said.
Additional benefits include reduced government spending on drainage and road repairs caused by oil blockages, decreased pollution-linked illnesses like cholera, and enhanced environmental conditions overall.
The program emphasizes voluntary participation over enforcement, relying on financial motivation to drive behavior change, Mr. Ajayi stressed.
“Economic incentives create effective systems. This approach encourages willing participation while converting waste into financial gain,” he said.
Nigeria aims to become the world’s third-largest used cooking oil supplier behind China and India within twelve months, he revealed.
The project supports Lagos State’s comprehensive circular economy framework, promoting recycling, waste-to-energy transformation, and resource recovery as components of its climate and sustainability objectives.
Recent state efforts include campaigns promoting responsible waste management, expanded recycling services, and exploration of biogas and alternative waste-to-energy technologies.
Inclusive Economic Model
LASEPA’s Director of Environmental Sustainability, Dayo Adebayo, characterized the program as accessible and community-focused, addressing the three sustainability dimensions: people, planet, and prosperity.
Conveniently located collection kiosks will facilitate participation across demographic and economic groups while advancing circular economy principles, she said.
Ayo Banjo, Managing Director of Ororo Waste Management, highlighted the program’s integration of environmental goals with public health and income generation.
While Ororo initially targeted restaurants and hotels, the expanded program now includes households, which produce 50 to 60 percent of used cooking oil, Mr. Banjo explained.
“We’re building a system where households gain supplementary income, waste collectors secure dignified employment, and young people become micro-business owners,” he said.
Ayodele Oso, LASEPA’s Director of Air Quality Management, emphasized the initiative’s role in reducing emissions and air pollution from unsafe oil reuse and open burning practices.
She encouraged households, vendors, and small enterprises to participate in what she described as a progressive measure aligned with Lagos State’s environmental and health protection priorities.
Youth participation will prove essential for expanding awareness and engagement, with young advocates promoting the scheme across markets, food establishments, and residential communities, officials added.
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