Nigeria: Europe's Electronic Junkyard

2016-12-20

ABUJA - Thousands of tons of used electronics and illegal e-waste are imported into Nigeria annually. High demand for used European electronics, inefficient regulation, and a local lack of recycling facilities form a growing hazard.

A team of journalists from Nigeria, Norway and Denmark has traced the e-waste’s route through Nigeria’s informal sector of importers, scavengers, and repairers to hazardous dismantlers and sub-standard recyclers. While e-waste dump Agbogbloshie of Ghana has been in the media spotlight for years, Nigeria’s e-waste problem is overlooked despite its fivefold larger scale.

The investigation also took the team to buying and shipping points in Germany and revealed how loopholes in European law enforcement allow illegal shipments of e-waste to take place. Used electronics serve as valuable IT to Africa’s largest population. But once they reach their end of life, a lack of responsibility for their disposal forms a serious hazard.

This investigation was funded through Journalismfund's Connecting Continents programme.

Team members

Ida Eri Sorbye

Ida Eri Sorbye was a freelance journalist and currently works at the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Idris Akinbajo

Idris Akinbajo is a Nigerian award winning investigative journalist.

Freja C. Eriksen

Freja C. Eriksen is a Danish freelance journalist.

Marthe Vee

Marthe Vee was a Norwegian freelance journalist and currently works for Little Big Sister.

Supported

A grant of €4,790 allocated on 23/09/2015

CC/2015/024

Grant

Connecting Continents

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