Iliyasu Abdullahi Bah
Across northern Nigeria, a growing environmental and public health crisis is unfolding as illegal waste disposal continues unchecked in urban and semi-urban communities. From the bustling streets of Kano to the recovering zones of Maiduguri, heaps of refuse clog drainage systems, pollute water channels, and threaten the well-being of millions.
An investigation by The Journal revealed widespread scenes of environmental degradation in key northern states. In Kano, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre in the North, mixed waste now overflows across Sabon Gari, Dorayi, and the popular Kantin Kwari Market, blocking major drainages and creating health hazards. In Kaduna, residents of Tudun Wada decried the routine disposal of medical waste from nearby hospitals into open spaces within residential areas.
“Look at this street. It’s now a garbage dump,” lamented Hajiya Fatima Usman, a resident of Dorayi. “It causes so many health contradictions in this area, like malaria, typhoid among others.”
At Gwammaja, a trader named Babake pointed toward a visibly clogged waterway.
“When it rains, the whole neighbourhood floods,” he said. “The plastic bottles and food waste block everywhere.”
Public health professionals are warning that improper waste disposal is directly linked to rising disease outbreaks in the region. According to figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Kano State recorded a 37% increase in cholera cases in 2023, with the majority of infections traced to contaminated water sources exacerbated by poor sanitation. Cases of typhoid and dysentery are also on the rise.
“Waste accumulation becomes a breeding ground for vectors like mosquitoes and flies,” said Dr. Ibrahim Abdullahi, a public health specialist at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. “It also heightens the risk of outbreaks like meningitis and typhoid fever.”
Findings from The Journal’s interviews with environmental officials show that northern Nigeria lags far behind in terms of waste management infrastructure. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), only 32% of generated waste is collected in the region. Most state governments reportedly allocate less than 1% of their annual budget to waste management, despite a regional population growth rate of 4.2% per year.
“We are facing rapid urbanisation without the infrastructure to manage it,” said Professor Aisha Mohammed of the Environmental Science Department at Bayero University, Kano. “We need immediate investment in modern landfills, recycling plants, and public environmental education.”
Some northern states have attempted to address the situation through monthly sanitation exercises and partnerships with NGOs, but critics say these measures are insufficient and uncoordinated.
“What we need is a swift, regionally coordinated response,” said Mallam Yusuf, founder of the Northern Environmental Initiative. “The problem goes beyond just sweeping streets. It requires policy, funding, and serious enforcement.”
Experts recommend that urgent steps be taken by state and local governments to tackle the mounting waste crisis. These include enforcing strict environmental laws, launching sustained public awareness campaigns, investing in recycling and composting initiatives, and strengthening local government waste management agencies.
The current trajectory, experts warn, could lead to a worsening cycle of disease outbreaks, flooding, and long-term environmental degradation unless swift, sustainable action is taken.