AWAMN brings Bavaria’s circular economy lessons home
The Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) has called for technology, stronger regulation and citizen participation to transform Nigeria’s waste management sector.
Dr Olugbenga Adebola, National President of AWAMN, made the call after a 10-day technical study tour to Bavaria, Germany.
Adebola said the tour focused on environmental technologies, waste management, circular economy and sewage and wastewater management.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the study tour held from Sept. 19 to Sept. 26 in Nuremberg, Germany and was funded by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy.
It was coordinated by Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (bbw) GmbH in partnership with AWAMN.
Adebola said the delegation examined systems where waste, wastewater and energy were managed as resources through regulation, technology and citizen participation.
He said Nigeria did not need to copy the German model but could adapt its principles to local socio-economic conditions.
“Waste is not waste unless you waste it. Don’t waste your waste; it is a resource,” Adebola said.
He said the tour demonstrated that technology alone could not address environmental challenges without effective governance and public participation.
Adebola said the delegation visited companies and facilities involved in wastewater treatment, water treatment, sludge management, digital monitoring and municipal waste management.
He said the visit to Klara GmbH demonstrated the potential of decentralised, modular wastewater treatment plants for communities, estates and hotels without central sewage systems.
According to him, such systems could be considered for estates and developments in Lagos and Abuja.
He said the systems could reduce reliance on septic tanks and soakaways that could contribute to groundwater contamination.
“At Clearfield PPU Water Systems, the delegation examined water treatment and pipe systems designed to reduce energy consumption and resist corrosion.”
Adebola said the technology could be explored for coastal communities, while local manufacturing could create opportunities for Nigerian businesses.
He said the visit to UTP Umwelttechnik Pöhnl GmbH exposed the delegation to conversion of sewage sludge into dried pellets for cement production.
According to him, Nigeria could explore partnerships between wastewater authorities and cement manufacturers to convert treated sludge into an energy resource.
Adebola said the delegation also examined digital systems developed by FlowChief GmbH for monitoring sewage flows, pump stations and waste collection operations.
He said similar technology could improve waste collection, monitor truck routes, reduce operational costs and provide early warnings on blockages.
The AWAMN president said visits to Klärwerk 1 Nuremberg and Freystadt sewage treatment plants demonstrated wastewater resource recovery.
He said the plants generated electricity from biogas, recovered phosphorus for fertiliser and reused treated water for agriculture.
Adebola called for Nigerian wastewater facilities to be redesigned as resource recovery centres rather than facilities focused solely on disposal.
On municipal waste management, Adebola said the delegation studied waste segregation and landfill management systems in Erlangen.
He said residents separated waste into different categories, while enforcement was supported by public participation.
Adebola said Nigeria should consider source segregation and develop facilities capable of recovering materials, generating energy and treating leachate and landfill gases.
The delegation also visited HUBER SE, where it examined equipment for screening, grit separation and sludge drying.
Adebola said AWAMN would explore opportunities for technology transfer, local assembly and technical training to improve equipment maintenance in Nigeria.
He said the delegation also studied a youth-led initiative in Augsburg converting organic waste into biogas for households.
According to him, similar initiatives could be developed in Nigerian markets and other locations generating large volumes of organic waste.
Adebola said such initiatives could create opportunities for young entrepreneurs while addressing organic waste challenges.
He said engagement with the Bavarian State Ministry also demonstrated the importance of government creating an enabling environment and supporting vocational training.
Adebola said AWAMN would seek continued collaboration with German institutions to strengthen technical and vocational training for Nigerian waste management operators.
He said AWAMN had identified seven major areas for possible action following the study tour.
“These include shifting from waste disposal to resource management, decentralising wastewater treatment and establishing circular economy industrial parks.
“Others are digitalising waste management operations, developing a permanent technical training centre, establishing a youth green fund and converting sewage sludge into useful products.”
Adebola proposed a circular economy industrial park in the Epe-Ogun axis, integrating sludge-to-energy, equipment manufacturing and organic waste processing enterprises.
He also proposed digital tracking systems for private-sector waste collection operations, including GPS monitoring of trucks and tracking waste from collection to disposal.
The AWAMN president proposed an AWAMN-bbw skills academy or similar vocational arrangement to build technical capacity in Nigeria’s waste and wastewater sector.
He also proposed youth-led biogas enterprises in major markets to convert organic waste into cooking gas and other useful products.
Adebola said the association would explore partnerships involving the Lagos State Waste Management Office and cement manufacturers.
He said the partnership could support utilisation of treated and dried sewage sludge by cement companies.
Adebola said the Bavarian experience showed that sustainable waste management required an integrated system involving government, operators, technology providers and citizens.
He said AWAMN planned to develop a formal Bavaria-Nigeria Circular Economy Partnership proposal covering 2026 to 2030.
According to him, the proposal would be presented at the association’s next international conference.
Adebola appreciated the Bavarian Ministry, German Consulate General in Lagos and bbw GmbH for supporting and coordinating the study tour.
He expressed the hope that participants would apply the knowledge gained to improve waste and wastewater management in Nigeria.
