Sector Lead’s CEO, Mr. Adedayo Mustapha, hopes to change Nigeria’s energy landscape with a trash-to-power initiative that turns Nigeria’s plentiful waste into clean, renewable electricity. This ROTIMI IGE interview covers his project plans and other topics.
You started a waste-to-power project. Please elaborate.
Nigerians know waste-to-energy. It’s long been discussed, and some of us have watched other countries set things off and improve on it. But when we see how much waste we make, we wonder why we haven’t yet to do this before. Nigeria should have started this more than a decade ago, but we are glad to be a leader. This project aims to construct a Nigerian waste management system to improve the environment and provide value to waste. We’re glad our waste management system will generate clean power.
Why did you start this initiative when African countries require trash management and recycling ideas?
Opportunity comes first. Is it profitable? We tried it because the numbers made logical. Our project addresses environmental damage caused by indiscriminate garbage disposal, which we must address nationally to reverse this trend. Nigeria’s leadership in Africa sets the tone for the future. Recycling will take time, and our effort is the first step.
How was this project’s site chosen?
Our pilot is in Abuja because the FCT management’s waste management ideas have made our job easier. Establishing up in other states wasn’t straightforward, but it wasn’t impossible. It will be easier to secure other governments’ assistance when we set up in the FCT, and they observe the project’s success.
Many undertakings like this require a lot of red tape. What have you done to make the project successful?
This project’s success depends on taking your time. We’ve been lucky with government support because the initiative solves a serious environmental issue. Technically, we’ve prepared well, and the team deserves praise.
Do you work together?
Certainly, we must collaborate, especially with people who have done this in other nations. We work with Greenplinth Africa Ltd, Germans, Chinese, and the government on environmental issues; cooperation is essential.
Any intentions for expansion?
Waste management affects us all and must be a national project. To do this, we’ll travel to other states, and it’s necessary.
Your team’s promise to Nigerians?
Novel approaches to common problems. It’s just the start. Be on the watch for our communications in other sectors.
Why do you think power generation is still a huge issue in the country?
Nigeria’s biggest difficulty has been transmission, and this administration has done a lot to fix it. The groundwork has been laid for increased transmission of up to 25,000MW, and once this upgrade is complete, the incoming administration should immediately begin raising our transmission capacity to 35,000MW or 50,000MW. So we’re ready for the industrialisation we want.
