Scavengers in Kaduna have turned a designated sewage dump site in Katanga Community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State into a thriving manure business.
A team of journalists, under the auspices of the Bridge That Gap Initiative, visited the Katanga Community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. They revealed that the initiative has provided economic empowerment for over 150 individuals who convert decomposed sewage into organic fertiliser for agricultural use.
The leader of the group, Mallam Zubairu, who spoke to journalists, explained that the business started over three years ago after they were displaced from their farmlands by bandits. He added that it’s their alternative means of survival. They discovered the economic potential of manure production from sewage waste.
“We sell a truckload of manure for at least N8,000, of which N1,000 is paid as tax to the local authority,” Zubairu disclosed.
Another scavenger, Mallam Suleiman Kawosu, who travels over 70 kilometres from Zaria to Katanga, said he has been in the business for years and sustains his nine-mind family through manure sales.
“A truckload goes for N10,000, and it has been a reliable source of income for me,” he added.
Gloria Kasang Bulus, an environmentalist and convener of the site tour, raised concerns about the health hazards associated with the practice.
She noted that many scavengers operate without protective gear, exposing themselves to health risks. Additionally, she observed that some parts of the sewage were burnt, contrary to environmental safety regulations.
“There are economic and environmental benefits, but we must ensure proper health measures are in place,” she cautioned.
The tour also took journalists and environmentalists to Tudun Illu in Kaduna North Local Government, where a massive illegal waste dump site sits in the middle of a residential area close to the Central Market.
Local chief Alhaji Bala Illu expressed frustration over the site’s long existence, stating that it recently caused a fire outbreak at a nearby primary school, urging the government to take decisive action to clear the site and prevent further hazards.
Climate experts, including Bulus and Zinta Istifanus, decried the presence of refuse dumps in densely populated areas, emphasising the urgent need for authorities to enforce proper waste management practices.
The Stakeholders urged the government to implement strict regulations to ensure compliance with global environmental best practices.
