Lagos State has launched a used cooking oil collection programme to reduce pollution, improve public health and tap into a $20 million biofuel market through household participation.
The Lagos State Government has unveiled a programme for collecting used cooking oil from residents to improve environmental protection, public health and climate action, while unlocking an estimated $20 million biofuel market. The initiative is driven by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, LASEPA, in partnership with Ororo Waste Management and supported by the Shell Foundation.
Speaking at the unveiling, LASEPA General Manager Babatunde Ajayi said the programme would position Lagos as a global biofuel player. “Medically, reheating cooking oil more than once alters its chemical composition, making it harmful to health,” he said, noting that improper disposal also worsens flooding and damages infrastructure.
Mr Ajayi added that residents can exchange used oil for rewards at collection kiosks, encouraging voluntary compliance. “When you put money at the end of any chain, it works,” he said. Ororo’s Managing Director, Ayo Banjo, said the scheme would help households earn income while creating dignified livelihoods and promoting a circular economy.