Nigerian Firm Secures €40 Million German Waste Management Contract

A Nigerian waste management firm has signed a €40 million export agreement with two German companies for the delivery of three waste treatment plants and waste collection trucks to Nigeria.

Zoomlion Nigeria finalised the deal with FIMA Industries Germany and FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH during the German-Nigerian Business Forum held in Lagos on Monday.

Lucas Dörr, Head of Business Development Export at FAUN Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG, stated that the €40 million agreement would boost Nigeria’s circular economy, recycling industry, and waste logistics in Lagos State.

“This is an export credit contract for around seven years, with the overall Lagos State contract lasting 15 years for waste collection and recycling,” Dörr explained.

As Lagos continues to expand rapidly, with over 15.9 million inhabitants, it faces significant challenges in managing the growing amount of waste generated by its increasing population.

In recent years, waste production in Lagos has surged, from 9,000 metric tonnes daily in 2014 to 12,000 metric tonnes in 2018, with per capita waste rising from 0.5kg to 0.72kg per day over the same period.

Currently, Lagos generates between 13,000 and 15,000 metric tonnes of waste daily—equivalent to approximately 490 trailer loads—each resident producing an average of 1.2kg per day. This figure is expected to rise to 1.4kg per person in the next 15 years.

“The long-standing collaboration between Lagos State and the German government continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to partnerships that benefit both the state’s economy and its environment,” said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State.

Represented by Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Sanwo-Olu stressed the role of such partnerships in achieving Lagos’s climate goals while promoting job creation and economic empowerment.

He noted that the partnership has fostered the development of new markets and provided technical support for waste management and material recovery businesses.

Sanwo-Olu also emphasised the significance of cooperation between the German-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and the German government in the success of these initiatives.

He expressed hope that these collaborations would further expand supply chains and create new financial opportunities for Lagos-based enterprises.