THESHIELD Garkuwa
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Stakeholders in environmental protection across Kaduna State have called for stronger collaboration and innovative strategies to address waste management challenges and safeguard the environment from pollution that threatens human and ecological health.
To advance these efforts, the Desk of Climate Change and Environment at the Interfaith Mediation Centre (IMC), in partnership with African Climate Reporters (ACR) and the Office of the Kaduna State Governor on Climate Change, organized a one-day Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout.
The February edition of the event was held under the theme “Rethinking Waste: Innovative Recycling Solutions for a Greener Kaduna.”
The forum featured panel discussions where experts and stakeholders exchanged ideas on practical approaches to reducing waste-related pollution, flooding, and land degradation in the state.
Delivering the lead paper, Comrade Yahaya Muhammed, Controller-General of Safety Awareness and Environmental Support Initiatives (SAESI), emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of recycling companies to handle increasing volumes of waste contributing to environmental degradation.
He stressed that public education is critical to ending harmful practices such as open waste burning, which poses serious health and environmental risks.
According to him, plastic waste remains a major challenge, but with the right innovation and investment, it can be recycled into useful products.
He warned against the widespread practice of setting fire to dump sites in residential areas and noted that proper waste management could generate income, adding that “waste is wealth” when effectively recycled.
Also speaking, Comrade Bala Umar, President of the Association of Horticulture Farmers Unity and Development, Kaduna State, revealed that the association plants over 50 million seedlings annually using discarded pure water sachets as nursery materials.
He said horticulture farmers are at the forefront of converting community waste into productive use, thereby preventing pollution and reducing flood risks.
He urged residents to stop indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste on streets and public spaces and to support efforts aimed at maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.
In her remarks, a lecturer at Kaduna Polytechnic, malama Halima Haruna, of the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, College of Engineering, highlighted the need for continuous public sensitization on the dangers of improper waste disposal.
She called on stakeholders to sustain awareness campaigns and promote innovative recycling practices that transform waste into useful materials.
Meanwhile, Mr. Samsam Auta, CoR Director at the Interfaith Mediation Centre, described the Kaduna Monthly Climate Hangout as a vital platform that brings together scientists, geologists, environmental journalists, non-governmental organizations, and civil society groups committed to environmental protection.
He noted that the IMC provides a space for dialogue, collaboration, and policy-oriented discussions among stakeholders aimed at promoting environmental sustainability in Kaduna State, and commended journalists and media organizations for their active participation in the climate hangout
