It
is popular knowledge that Nigerians love flashy electronic devices and
have over the years been bombarded with too many cheap yet fake gadgets.
This is why Nigeria has become the dumping ground for these devices.
Wikipedia describes electronic waste or e-waste as discarded
electrical or electronic devices. It added that they are used
electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or
disposal are also considered e-waste.
Surprisingly, these discarded electronic devices don’t end up in
China, The United States of America, Indonesia, and England. They come
straight to Africa and route it to Nigeria. So, why is Nigeria an
attractive destination for e-waste? Jumia Travel, identifies 5 reasons.
1. We love cheap products
Cheap products and some Nigerians are like Siamese twins. They are
inseparable. Funny enough, some sellers will encourage you to buy a
fairly used product rather than a new one. This, according to them, is
because the fairly used one is better when it comes to quality. This is
perhaps why we have fairly used gadgets flooding the country. Also, they
are very cheap. For some Nigerians, it’s cost over quality. In a recent
report, “Nigeria dangerously consumes technologies which have 90%
foreign input and a paltry 10% local input.”
2. Non-performing government agencies
The acting head of the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) Paul
Angya said recently SON has no opportunity to inspect goods brought in
through Nigerian seaports which account for over 90% of goods brought
into the country as the agency is not allowed to operate in the ports
thereby making smugglers of fake products have a field day. If 90% of
goods entering this country are not checked, you can only imagine how
many of them are e-waste. We also have Lagos State Environmental
Protection Agency and The National Standards and Regulations
Environmental Agency. They are arguably lame duck government bodies.
3. Corruption
It is no gainsaying corruption has eaten into the fabric of the
Nigerian society. The customs and even SON who are in charge of checking
these products may simply turn a blind eye to these e-wastes as far as
you can rub their palms or make them happy!
4. We don’t manufacture anything
A country that doesn’t manufacture anything opens the door for
anything to come in including e-waste. This is why the recession is
shattering the economy. We only rely on importers to import everything
we use in this country.
5. Anything sells in Nigeria
If Nigerians can buy drugs in commercial buses, then what else
can’t they buy? We have the population. So, since anything sells in
Nigeria and the business environment is poorly regulated, then e-waste
will continue to be dumped in the country despite the toxic dangers
inherent in them. And trust Nigerians, they will gladly buy!
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