Plogging Nigeria: Volunteers Tackle Waste in Lagos

In Lagos, Nigeria, Plogging Nigeria, a network of volunteers known as “Ploggas,” are collecting rubbish while jogging to address the country’s waste management challenges. The group, founded in 2018 by Mayokun Iyaomolere, began as a small initiative at the University of Benin and has grown to include 26 communities across 16 Nigerian states.

Volunteers regularly gather to collect trash from public spaces, recently collecting nearly 153 kilograms during one event at a bus terminal. They sort recyclables, plastic, paper, and nylon, for a recycling company, sending the rest to municipal dumps.

While Plogging Nigeria has collected over 50 metric tons of recyclables, Iyaomolere recognizes this is a small amount given Nigeria generates an estimated 44.5 million metric tons of solid waste annually, with only 30% properly disposed of. Iyaomolere hopes to expand the network’s impact by advocating for better waste management policies and infrastructure. He envisions a future where the Ploggas are no longer needed, signifying a Nigeria free of litter.