The Alternative Bank, in partnership with the Sterling Sustainability Working Group, has donated plastic waste bins to Wuse Market, Abuja, as part of its efforts to address Nigeria’s solid waste problem.
Mohammed Abdull, Divisional Head (North) The Alternative Bank, presented the waste bins to the management of Wuse Market after a sensitization walk from Yoruba Mosque in Wuse 11 to Wuse Market. Abdull said the donation is part of the bank’s Walk4ZeroPlastic campaign, an initiative aimed at reducing plastic pollution through awareness and community participation. He explained that the donation marked the end of the Walk4ZeroPlastic march, which mobilized over 300 volunteers and recovered several tonnes of plastic waste from the environment.
He said the bins, placed across Wuse Market, are intended to support waste collection efforts by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) and promote better waste management practices among traders and visitors. Abdull stressed the role of community involvement in addressing environmental issues. “This initiative is about more than just cleanup,” he said. “It’s about building habits that will have a lasting impact.”
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The campaign promotes responsible waste management, encouraging behavior change based on the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
Volunteers held awareness sessions with marketgoers on proper waste disposal, reinforcing responsible consumption. “Our commitment goes beyond a one-time effort,” Abdull added. “Our staff continue to engage traders daily to keep education and sustainability at the forefront.”
The campaign highlights the need to address plastic pollution at its source. “Markets are major points of plastic use and disposal,” a campaign spokesperson said. “Plastic never truly degrades—it accumulates in water, food, and even in our bodies as microplastics, which pose health risks.” Plans are underway to launch waste-to-value programs to empower traders to exchange collected plastic waste for money. The Alternative Bank will also introduce banking products to help traders manage and grow their earnings.
Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, called for united efforts to tackle Nigeria’s plastic waste problem, noting that the country generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, with plastics accounting for more than 15%. Lawal, represented by Dangowa Orume, Assistant Director of Solid Waste Management, said, “Unmanaged plastic waste threatens public health, the economy, and the environment.”
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“Campaigns like Walk4ZeroPlastic support national policies such as the Plastic Waste Management Policy, Solid Waste Management Policy, and the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap,” he added. The minister emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing waste management solutions. “The time to act is now,” he said. “Together, we must reduce plastic waste and build a cleaner, sustainable future.”
Abubakar Dangana, Market Secretary of the Wuse Market Association, thanked The Alternative Bank for the donation, noting its potential to improve sanitation and encourage better waste disposal within the market.
The Walk4ZeroPlastic campaign continues to promote environmental responsibility through education, advocacy, and collaboration, showing that collective action can make a difference in addressing Nigeria’s solid waste challenges.
