The Oyo State Government has intensified efforts to actualise its waste-to-wealth initiative with the inspection of a proposed 44-acre facility at Elere Village, along Ido-Eruwa Road, Ibadan.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, led a management team on site visit to assess its readiness and ensure compliance with environmental standards.
During the inspection, technical experts provided detailed briefings on the project’s operational framework, environmental safeguards, and projected economic benefits.
The waste-to-wealth facility was designed to convert municipal waste into valuable by-products such as electricity, biofuel, fertilizer, construction materials, and other reusable resources.
According to the project team, the plant will operate an integrated system featuring an automated conveyor-based mechanism to sort recyclable materials like metals and plastics before combustion.
Speaking during the visit, Aderinto said the selection of the site waste-to-wealth project was carefully done to protect nearby communities and preserve air and water quality.
He added that the facility would incorporate sanitary landfill systems capable of achieving up to 97 per cent material recovery, leaving minimal residual waste for controlled disposal.
He noted that the waste-to-wealth initiative aligned with the state government’s vision of transforming waste management into an economic driver, creating jobs, and reducing environmental pollution.
Technical experts from Sector Lead Limited disclosed that the combustion system would capture about 64 per cent of fly ash generated, with cement manufacturers already positioned to utilize the by-product.
They added that emissions from the plant would largely consist of water vapor, in line with global environmental standards.
The team further revealed that bottom ash would be repurposed for road construction, while approximately 12,000 tons of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), produced monthly, already have buyers for power generation.
Aderinto stated that the waste-to-wealth project would serve Ibadan and surrounding areas, including the Ibarapa axis, while also reducing the cost of waste evacuation for residents.
He added that the project would produce electricity, bio cooking gas, fertilizer, and other value-added products, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable environmental management.
The commissioner reaffirmed that the Oyo State government is on track to pioneer modern waste-to-wealth technology in Nigeria, setting a benchmark for other states.
