Over the weekend, residents of Badagry were rewarded with food items, cash, free transportation vouchers, and health insurance enrollment as part of Lagos State’s new Circular Economy initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable development practices across the state.
The initiative, titled “Eco-Circulate,” was organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy, led by Mrs. Titilayo Oshodi. The event, held at St. Thomas Primary School on Agbalata Market Road in Badagry, saw a large turnout of residents eager to exchange their waste materials, such as PET bottles, rubber, and other disposed household items, for valuable rewards like rice, garri, and instant cash transfers directly into their bank accounts.
“Eco-Circulate” is designed as a one-day sensitization campaign that educates communities on the value of waste and how it can be transformed to meet their needs. The campaign aims to activate and engage communities, particularly small businesses, as key beneficiaries in Lagos State’s drive toward a Circular Economy.
According to Mrs. Oshodi, the initiative is a waste valorization, data aggregation, and circular education program that aims to enlighten and teach communities about the benefits of recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. “This initiative positions circular practices as an incentivized social subsidy strategy, rewarding residents who incorporate climate-friendly behaviors into their daily lives,” she added.
The event featured a vibrant waste-to-value bazaar, offering residents opportunities to enroll in health insurance, receive free transportation vouchers, and obtain food items, among other benefits. Oshodi emphasized the importance of educating communities on the impact of effective and responsible waste management on their health, financial capability, and overall quality of life.
While significant progress has been made in promoting Circular Economy practices within Lagos through the Ministry of the Environment and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), there is a need to extend these practices to rural areas. The Eco Circulate initiative was born out of this need to engage and educate communities across the state.
The program, which debuted in Badagry, serves as a pilot to gather data and build a business case for scaling the initiative across all 57 local councils in Lagos, as mandated by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The incentives provided include discounts on transportation (BRT, Rail, and Waterways), health insurance schemes, and more.
Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Rural Development, Bolaji Roberts, a native of Badagry, urged residents to take full advantage of the initiative. He assured the government’s full cooperation in the exercise and thanked the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy for selecting Badagry as the launch site.
