Nigeria battles a rising tide of e-waste

Nigeria produces more electronic waste than any other country in sub Saharan Africa and much of that is imported - arriving each day in shipping containers filled with untested appliances that are often dead on arrival.

On a wet day in Lagos, one of those containers has arrived outside Chikaodiri Michael's business.

As the importer looks through computer monitors, buyers and scavengers wait behind him ready to haggle over the goods.

But Michael says most of what they get is junk.

"Most of the goods we bring in we cannot even sell them, most of them are waste so it is excess loss this time around."

According to a report last month from the U.N.'s Global E-waste Monitor, the amount of electronic waste generated worldwide has surged by 21% over just five years to a record 53.6 million metric tonnes in 2019.

Nigeria generated more than 460,000 tonnes last year. It also imports between 60,000 and 70,000 tonnes of used electrical equipment - most of it from Europe.

Much of the global e-waste is destined for incineration or landfill with dire consequences for the environment but some like Ifeanyi Ochonogor are fighting back.

"From the start of this country, we have not had really any answer for the electronic waste that we produce, talk less of the electronic waste that gets dumped on us from outside."

He founded E-Terra Technologies - an e-waste recycling, refurbishing and data destruction service - after visiting "Computer Village" - Africa's largest ICT accessory market in Lagos.

It's common in Nigeria to see stalls selling worn-out second-hand appliances referred to as "Tokunbo" - a Yoruba word meaning "from abroad."

Traders also often dismantle these items - oblivious to the fact that the mercury and lead found in some e-waste could harm their health.

"We enlighten them to the damage that is being caused..."

Ochonogor's business is working to teach traders about the dangers whilst also collecting and disposing of e-waste using eco-friendly processes.

But his factory has the capacity to process just ten tonnes a month - far short of the amount Nigeria generates.