Nigeria faces a growing crisis at the intersection of waste management and energy supply. Rapid urbanization and population growth have overwhelmed waste systems, leading to widespread dumping, environmental pollution, and lost economic value. An estimated 32 million tons of waste are generated annually, yet less than 20% is formally collected and properly managed. Much of this waste ends up in open spaces, waterways, and drainage systems, contributing to flooding, health risks, and environmental degradation.

At the same time, Nigeria’s electricity sector struggles with persistent underperformance. Although installed generation capacity exceeds 13,000 MW, the national grid typically delivers only 3,000–5,000 MW, far below an estimated demand of over 30,000 MW. This gap results in unreliable power supply, frequent outages, and widespread dependence on costly diesel and petrol generators.

These two challenges are deeply interconnected. Waste continues to accumulate without effective processing systems, while energy demand continues to rise without sufficient supply. Valuable resources and energy potential embedded in waste streams remain largely untapped.