Yobe Pushes Waste Management Reforms

Yobe State government, through the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities (SOLID) Project, has convened a stakeholder dissemination meeting on solid waste management study, marking a major milestone in the state’s ongoing urban renewal and environmental sustainability agenda.

The engagement, which took place at the Governor’s Office in Damaturu, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), local government areas, private sector operators, civil society organisations and community leaders.

The meeting served as a platform to present and validate the findings of the comprehensive waste management assessment conducted in Damaturu metropolis.

In a remark, the commissioner for Environment reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni to building a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient Yobe State. He emphasised that the study provides a robust, evidence-based foundation for transforming the State’s waste management system into a modern, efficient, and environmentally sustainable model.

Earlier, the project coordinator of the SOLID Project, Mr Suleiman Dauda, emphasised that the waste management study was undertaken in response to the growing pressures of urbanisation on existing environmental services in the capital city.

Dauda said the study provided a critical, evidence-based foundation for addressing gaps in waste collection, transportation and disposal systems, while supporting the broader objective of improving access to resilient and inclusive basic services for internally displaced persons and host communities.

“The findings of the study highlighted both the challenges and opportunities within the current waste management system, including gaps in infrastructure, institutional coordination and service coverage.

“Importantly, the study outlines a clear pathway for reform, including the development of an integrated waste management system encompassing improved collection, transportation, treatment, and environmentally sound disposal practices,” he stated.