An overview of hazardous waste management in Nigeria

Abstract

Hazardous wastes are substances that are no longer needed and have no current or perceived value at a given time or place. Many of the materials used or produced in chemical processes possess hazardous properties. The key hazardous wastes sources include industrial, medical, and household wastes, and occur in solid, liquid, or gaseous states. These are wastes that are classified and/or have intrinsic or inbuilt chemical and physical distinctiveness of toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, and reactivity. Managing hazardous wastes is of immense significance to human, economic, social and environmental health conditions. Hazardous wastes management practice in Nigeria is not in consonance with the best global practices. Many hazardous wastes are dumped indiscriminately, which constitutes hazard to the environment and posed public health concerns. This study analysed the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of hazardous wastes management in Nigeria. There are various environmental regulations on hazardous wastes in the country, but implementation remains a challenge, as such there is need for more proactive measures to be taken towards sustainable solutions to the problems.