By Admin 
Abuja, Nigeria – April 2025
A new report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the year 2023/2024 has highlighted concerning levels of informal refuse disposal across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, raising fresh questions about the country’s waste management systems and public health implications.
According to the data, the North-East zone recorded the highest percentage of informal refuse disposal at 59.8%, followed closely by the South-East at 53.1%. The North-West came in third with 46.4%, while the South-South recorded 43.4%. The North-Central and South-West zones reported the lowest rates at 38.7% and 36.9%, respectively.
Informal refuse disposal typically includes the dumping of waste in unauthorized locations such as roadsides, open fields, rivers, and forests, which poses significant environmental and health risks. Analysts say the high rates, particularly in the North-East and South-East, point to systemic issues in waste collection infrastructure and public awareness.
Experts are calling for urgent government intervention, improved sanitation infrastructure, and public sensitization campaigns to curb the trend. Environmental advocates warn that if left unaddressed, the issue could worsen climate vulnerabilities and contribute to the spread of diseases.
The NBS report underscores the urgent need for a coordinated national waste management strategy, especially as urban populations grow and consumption patterns change.
Source: National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2023/2024